[Influence of electroacupuncture on insulin-resistance in nonalcoholic fatty liver rats]

To investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats.

Thirty male SD rats were randomized into normal control, NAFLD model and EA groups, with 10 cases in each. NAFLD model was established by feeding the rats with high-fat food for 8 weeks. EA (2 Hz, 4 mA) was applied to "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Fenglong" (ST 40), "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), and "Taichong" (LR 3) for 15 min, once daily for 4 weeks. Fasting blood sugar (FBG) and serum free fatty acids (FFA) were detected with chromatometry; serum insulin (INS) was determined with radioimmunoassay; homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and liver index (LI) were calculated. Liver tissue was cut into sections for detecting pathological changes.

Compared with normal control group, FBG, INS, FFA, HOMA-IR and LI of model group increased significantly (P<0.05), and hepatic diffuse steatosis with cellular necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration was obvious. In comparison with model group, all the 5 indexes in EA group decreased significantly (P<0.05), and pathological changes as hepatic steatosis, etc. were significantly reduced.

EA may be used to effectively improve NAFLD by lowering insulin resistance.