Repeated application of electroacupuncture ameliorates hyperglycemia in obese Zucker diabetic fatty rats

Electroacupuncture (EA) was investigated for lowering the blood glucose (BG) in fasting male obese Zucker fatty diabetic (ZDF) rats aged 10-17 weeks. Anesthesia provided satisfactory chemical restraint to enable repeated EA. Animals in Groups 1, 2 and 3 were anesthetized on Days 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12. Group 1 (n = 4) received no EA (controls), Group 2 (n = 4) EA at Zhongwan and Guanyuan acupoints, and Group 3 (n = 4) EA at both Zusanli acupoints. BG was measured at 10 and 20 minutes, and EA was applied for 30 minutes, after which BG was measured again. Group 2 had a significantly lower baseline BG at 20 minutes on Days 5, 8 and 12 and significantly less change in BG over 30 minutes on Days 3 and 5 than Group 1 (p < 0.05). Group 3 showed a significant decrease in the mean baseline BG compared to Group 1 in Week 1 (p < 0.05). Thus, repeated EA using Zhongwan and Guanyuan acupoints was effective in lowering the baseline BG and modulating the change in the BG in anesthetized animals.