[Effect of acupoint-catgut-embedding intervention on type II diabetic rats]

To observe the effect of acupoint-catgut-embedding therapy on blood lipid and insulin levels in type I diabetes mellitus rats;s as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of pancreatic functions.

Thirty SD rats were divided into normal, model and treatment group. The type I diabetes model was established by feeding the rats with high-fat diet and intraperitodneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Catgut-embedment was performed in acupoint "Zhongwan" (CV 12)-"Xiawan" (CV 10), "Yishu"-"Ganshu" (BL 18), etc., once every 20 days, twice altogether. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) content was assayed by glucose oxidase method; glycosylated hemoglobin A 1 c (HbA 1 c) assayed by ELISA, and serum fasting C-peptide(FC-p) deterriined by chemiluminescence method; and the triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and serum insulin (INS) levels were detected by enzymatic method, separately. The rat's pancreas tissues were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and cut into sections (4 Im in thickness) and stained with H. E. method.

After modeling, the levels of FBG, HbA 1 c, INS and FC-p, TG, TC were significantly increased in the model group in comparison with those of the normal group (P<0.05), while INS sensitive. index was apparently decreased in the model group (P<0.05). Following catgut-embedding treatment, changes of the above-mentioned indexes were all remarkably reversed (P<0.05), and H.E. staining showed an improvement of the injured pancreatic tissue and islet cells.

Catgut-embedding therapy can reduce fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance, and improve lipid metabolism in type I diabetic rats, which may contribute to its effect in protecting pancreatic islet cells.