Objective: To explore the effect of acupuncture on oxidative stress and apoptosis-related proteins of liver in obese mice induced by high-fat diet.
Methods: A total of 45 male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into a control group (10 mice) and a model established group (35 mice). Mice in the model established group were fed with high-fat diet for 16 weeks to establish the obesity model. After model established, 30 mice were randomized into a model group, a non-acupoint group and an acupoint group, 10 mice in each one. Acupuncture was applied at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), " Zusanli" (ST 36), "Yishu" (EX-B 3) in the acupoint group and the points of 0.5 cm and 1 cm to the base of tail in the non-acupoint group, 15 min each time, once a day for 8 weeks. Mice in the control group were fed with normal diet, while mice in the other 3 groups were fed with high-fat diet continuously for 8 weeks. The body weight was measured at 0, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, 20th, 24th week in each group respectively. After 24-week intervention, the weight of white adipose tissue of epididymis and perirenal and liver was measured; the levels of serum alanine transaminase(ALT) and glutamic oxaloacetic aminotransferase (AST) were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer; liver homogenate was used to detect the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD); the liver morphology was observed by HE staining; the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blot.
Results: Compared with the control group, the body weight of mice in the model group, the acupoint group and the non-acupoint group was decreased on 16th week into experiment (before intervention, P<0.05); compared with the model group and the non-acupoint group, the body weight of mice in the acupoint group were decreased after intervention (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the weight of white adipose tissue and liver, the levels of serum ALT and AST, the level of liver MDA, the expression of liver Bax were increased (P<0.05); the activity of liver SOD and the expression of liver Bcl-2 were decreased in the model group after intervention (P<0.05). Compared with the model group and the non-acupoint group, the weight of white adipose tissue and liver, the levels of serum ALT and AST, the level of liver MDA, the expression of liver Bax were decreased (P<0.05); the activity of liver SOD and the expression of liver Bcl-2 were increased in the acupoint group after intervention (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Acupuncture at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Yishu"(EX-B 3) can improve obesity and obesity related hepatic disorder by regulating oxidative stress and inhibiting apoptosis in liver.
目的：探讨针刺对高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠肝脏氧化应激和细胞凋亡的影响。方法：将45只雄性C57BL/6小鼠随机分为空白组（10只）和造模组（35只）。造模组给予持续高脂饮食喂养16周制备肥胖模型，将造模成功的30只小鼠随机分为模型组、非穴位组和穴位组，每组10只。穴位组选取“关元”“足三里”“胰俞”进行针刺，非穴位组于距离尾根0.5 cm和1 cm处针刺，每次15 min，每日1次，连续治疗8周。空白组继续给予普通饲料喂养8周，余组继续给予高脂饮食喂养8周。分别于第0、4、8、12、16、20、24周测量各组小鼠体质量。于第24周干预结束后取材，测量小鼠白色脂肪组织（附睾白色脂肪和肾周白色脂肪）及肝脏质量；全自动生化分析仪检测小鼠血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）水平；肝组织匀浆测定小鼠丙二醇（MDA）含量和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性；HE染色法观察小鼠肝组织形态；Western blot法检测小鼠肝脏组织中凋亡相关蛋白Bax、Bcl-2的表达。结果：实验第16周（干预前），模型组、穴位组和非穴位组小鼠体质量均高于空白组（P<0.05）；实验第24周（干预结束后），穴位组小鼠体质量低于模型组和非穴位组（P<0.05）。干预结束后，模型组小鼠白色脂肪组织及肝脏质量，血清ALT、AST水平，肝脏组织MDA含量、Bax蛋白表达均显著高于空白组（P<0.05）；肝脏组织SOD活性、Bcl-2蛋白表达均显著低于空白组（P<0.05）。穴位组小鼠干预结束后白色脂肪组织及肝脏质量，血清ALT、AST水平，肝脏组织MDA含量、Bax蛋白表达均显著低于模型组和非穴位组（P<0.05）；肝脏组织SOD活性、Bcl-2蛋白表达均显著高于模型组和非穴位组（P<0.05）。结论：针刺“关元”“足三里”“胰俞”可能通过影响肝脏氧化应激和抑制肝细胞凋亡改善小鼠肥胖及肥胖相关的肝功能紊乱。.
Keywords: acupuncture; apoptosis; high-fat diet; liver; obesity; oxidative stress.