[Effect of acupuncture on gastrointestinal stem cell factor/kit system after colocolic anastomosis in rats]

To observe the effect of acupuncture on colonic stem cell factor (SCF)-receptor tyrosine kinase (Kit, a transmembrane protein c-kit) system in colocolic anastomosis rats so as to explore its underlying mechanism in regulating intestinal motility after enteroenterostomy.

Thirty SD rats were randomized into control, model (colocolic anastomosis) and acupuncture groups (n = 10/group). Acupuncture was applied to bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) and "Taichong" (LR 3), once a day for 3 days. The fecal-excretion time and the propulsive rate of the small intestine were measured. The immunoactivity of c-kit immunoreaction positive products in the colon tissue 2 cm below the caecum was detected using immunohistochemistry and the expression of SCF mRNA detected using real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method.

Following colocolic anastomosis, the intestinal propulsive rate in the model group was decreased considerably in comparison with the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the first fecal-excretion time and the intestinal propulsive rate were improved significantly in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05). In comparison with the control group, the immunoactivity of c-kit and the expression of SCF mRNA in colon tissue were down-regulated obviously in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while in comparison with the model group, the expression levels of c-kit and SCF mRNA were increased in the acupuncture group significantly (P < 0.05).

Acupuncture can suppress enteroenterostomy-induced down-regulation of the expression of c-kit protein and SCF mRNA in colocolic anastomosis rats, which may contribute to its effect in regulating the intestinal motility after enteroenterostomy.