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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2023 , Vol. 43 >Issue 3: 494 - 500

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2023.03.001

Electroacupuncture alleviates water avoidance stress-induced irritable bowel syndrome in mice by improving intestinal barrier functions and suppressing the expression of inflammatory cytokines

  • Mengzhu SUN ,
  • Yujie ZHANG ,
  • Yafang SONG ,
  • Jing GUO ,
  • Yuhang WANG ,
  • Chen XIN ,
  • Dongmei GU ,
  • Jianhua SUN ,
  • Lixia PEI
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  • 1 Department of acupuncture, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Meidicne, Nanjing 210023, China
    2 Department of acupuncture, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China

Received date: 2021-02-12

  Accepted date: 2021-05-07

  Online published: 2023-04-28

Supported by

Research and Practice Innovation Program for Postgraduates of Jiangsu Province (Mechanism of Electroacupuncture Regulating Bile Acid Receptor to Alleviate Visceral Hypersensitivity in Irritable Bowel Syndrome)(KYCX20_1469);National Natural Science Fund (Mechanism of Electroacupuncture Regulating CRF-NLRP6 Inflammasome-Related Pathways in Intestinal Flora Immune Dialogue)(81804193);Leading Talents Project of Jiangsu Provincial Administration of TCM (Clinical Effect and Mechanism of Acupuncture and Moxibustion on Irritable Bowel Syndrome)(SLJ0206);Peak Talent Project of Jiangsu Province Hospital of TCM (Clinical Effect and Mechanism of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Functional Gastrointestinal Diseases)(y2018rc05)

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects and related mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated into normal, model, and EA groups. Experimental IBS mice models were established by exposure to water avoidance stress (WAS). Mice in the EA group were treated with EA at bilateral Tianshu (ST 25) and Zusanli (ST 36) for 7 consecutive days, 15 min each day. Abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) tests and intestinal motility tests were performed to evaluate visceral sensitivity and intestinal motility of mice. Expression levels of tight junction proteins (TJPs) and inflammatory cytokines in colon tissues were determined through immunofluorescence, real-time polymerase chain reactions (PCR) and Western blot assays.

RESULTS: EA alleviated visceral hypersensitivity and intestinal hypermotility in WAS-induced IBS mice. Moreover, EA promoted the expression of zonula occludens (ZO)-1, claudin-1, and occludin while suppressing the expression of interleukin (IL)-8, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-αin water avoidance stress (WAS)-induced irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) mice.

CONCLUSION: EA alleviated WAS-induced IBS in mice by promoting intestinal barrier functions and suppressing the expression of inflammatory cytokines.

Key words： electroacupuncture; irritable bowel syndrome; intestinal barrier function; tight junction proteins; inflammatory cytokines

Cite this article

Mengzhu SUN , Yujie ZHANG , Yafang SONG , Jing GUO , Yuhang WANG , Chen XIN , Dongmei GU , Jianhua SUN , Lixia PEI . Electroacupuncture alleviates water avoidance stress-induced irritable bowel syndrome in mice by improving intestinal barrier functions and suppressing the expression of inflammatory cytokines[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2023 , 43(3) : 494 -500 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2023.03.001

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