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Chronic Electrical Stimulation at Acupoints Reduces Body Weight and Improves Blood Glucose in Obese Rats via Autonomic Pathway

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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate effects and mechanisms of chronic electrical stimulation at acupoints (CEA) using surgically implanted electrodes on food intake, body weight, and metabolisms in diet-induced obese (DIO) rats.

Methods

Thirty-six DIO rats were chronically implanted with electrodes at acupoints ST-36 (Zusanli). Three sets of parameters were tested: electrical acupuncture (EA) 1 (2-s on, 3-s off, 0.5 ms, 15 Hz, 6 mA), EA2 (same as EA1 but continuous pulses), and EA3 (same as EA2 but 10 mA). A chronic study was then performed to investigate the effects of CEA on body weight and mechanisms involving gastrointestinal hormones and autonomic functions.

Results

EA2 significantly reduced food intake without uncomfortable behaviors. CEA at EA2 reduced body weight and epididymal fat pad weight (P < 0.05). CEA reduced both postprandial blood glucose and HbA1c (P < 0.05). CEA delayed gastric emptying (P < 0.03) and increased small intestinal transit (P < 0.02). CEA increased fasting plasma level of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (P < 0.05); the increase of GLP-1 was inversely correlated with postprandial blood glucose (R 2 = 0.89, P < 0.05); and the plasma ghrelin level remained unchanged. EA increased sympathetic activity (P < 0.01) and reduced vagal activity (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

CEA at ST-36 reduces body weight and improves blood glucose possibly attributed to multiple mechanisms involving gastrointestinal motility and hormones via the autonomic pathway.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Statement for Animal Care and Use

All applicable institutional and/or national guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

Informed Consent

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterans Research and Education Foundation, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA

    Jiemin Liu, Haifeng Jin, Yong Lei, Xiaohong Xu, Shiying Li, Jieyun Yin & Jiande D. Z. Chen

  2. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA

    Jiemin Liu, Haifeng Jin & Robert D. Foreman

  3. Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, Guizhou, Guiyang, China

    Jiemin Liu

  4. The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Hangzhou, China

    Haifeng Jin

  5. Ningbo Pace Medical Research Center, Beilun, Ningbo, China

    Jieyun Yin & Jiande D. Z. Chen

  6. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Jiande D. Z. Chen

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  1. Jiemin Liu
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  2. Haifeng Jin
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  3. Robert D. Foreman
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  4. Yong Lei
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  5. Xiaohong Xu
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  6. Shiying Li
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  7. Jieyun Yin
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  8. Jiande D. Z. Chen
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jieyun Yin or Jiande D. Z. Chen.

Additional information

Jiemin Liu and Haifeng Jin are co-first authors; they contributed equally to the work.

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Liu, J., Jin, H., Foreman, R.D. et al. Chronic Electrical Stimulation at Acupoints Reduces Body Weight and Improves Blood Glucose in Obese Rats via Autonomic Pathway. OBES SURG 25, 1209–1216 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-014-1521-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-014-1521-6

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