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[Effects of electroacupuncture at acupoints with different nerve segments on gastric emptying in OT gene knockout
Weiwei Liu1, Chao Zhang1, Yukai Zhang1
1College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Hunan University of CM, Changsha 410208, China.
Objective:
To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoints with different nerve segments on gastric emptying in oxytocin (OT) gene knockout mice, and to explore the role of paraventricular nucleus OT in EA regulating gastric function.
Methods:
Twenty OT knockout mice and twenty wild-type mice (8-9 weeks old, male and female in half) were divided into a control group, a Zusanli (ST 36) group, a Neiguan (PC 6) group and a Weishu (BL 21) group randomly, 5 mice in each group. The mice in the control group received no acupuncture; the mice in the Zusanli (ST 36) group, Neiguan (PC 6) group and Weishu (BL 21) group were treated with EA at unilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Weishu" (BL 21) for 15 min respectively. Subsequently, the mice were treated with intragastric administration with milk loaded with technetium-99m diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA), immediately followed by scanning of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to test gastric emptying for 50 min; the original data was collected and analyzed to obtain the half gastric emptying time (GET 1/2), 50-min stomach residue rate and gastric emptying curve.
Results:
The wild-type mice group:compare with the control group, after EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Neiguan" (PC 6), the GET 1/2 and 50-min stomach residue rate were significantly reduced, which could improve the gastric emptying of wild-type mice (P<0.01, P<0.05); after EA at "Weishu" (BL 21), the GET 1/2 and 50-min stomach residue rate were significantly increased, which could inhibit the gastric emptying of wild-type mice (P<0.01, P<0.05). The OT gene knockout mice group:compared with the control group, EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Neiguan" (PC 6) had no significant effects on gastric emptying (both P>0.05); after EA at "Weishu" (BL 21), the GET 1/2 and 50-min stomach residue rate were significantly increased, which could inhibit the gastric emptying of OT gene knockout mice (both P<0.01). Gastric emptying curve:the gastric emptying of OT gene knockout mice was significantly faster than that of wild-type mice.
Conclusions:
The effects of EA at acupoints with different nerve segments on gastric emptying in mice are different, and the knockout of OT gene could accelerate the gastric emptying, and influence the acupuncture effect of several acupoints. It is suggested the paraventricular nucleus OT neurons, as the initiating device of autonomic nervous pathways, might participate in EA regulating the gastric function to inhibit the gastric emptying, with the form of neural and neuroendocrine.
Insights
Electroacupuncture (EA) effects on gastric emptying differ by acupoint and are influenced by oxytocin (OT) gene knockout. OT gene knockout accelerates gastric emptying and alters EA responses, suggesting OT
Area of Science:
- Neurogastroenterology
- Acupuncture Research
- Genetics and Physiology
Background:
- Oxytocin (OT) plays a role in regulating physiological functions.
- Electroacupuncture (EA) is used to modulate gastrointestinal motility.
- The specific role of OT in EA-mediated gastric function regulation remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of EA at different acupoints on gastric emptying in OT gene knockout mice.
- To elucidate the involvement of paraventricular nucleus OT in EA's regulation of gastric function.
Main Methods:
- Gastric emptying was assessed in OT knockout and wild-type mice using 99mTc-DTPA milk imaging after EA.
- Mice were treated with EA at Zusanli (ST 36), Neiguan (PC 6), or Weishu (BL 21) acupoints.
- Key parameters analyzed included half gastric emptying time (GET 1/2) and 50-min stomach residue rate.
Main Results:
- EA at ST 36 and PC 6 improved gastric emptying in wild-type mice, while EA at BL 21 inhibited it.
- In OT gene knockout mice, EA at ST 36 and PC 6 showed no significant effect on gastric emptying.
- EA at BL 21 inhibited gastric emptying in both wild-type and OT gene knockout mice, though knockout mice exhibited faster baseline gastric emptying.
Conclusions:
- EA's effects on gastric emptying vary depending on the acupoint and the presence of the OT gene.
- OT gene knockout accelerates gastric emptying and modulates the efficacy of certain EA acupoints.
- Paraventricular nucleus OT neurons likely participate in EA-mediated gastric function regulation via neural and neuroendocrine pathways.
