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Regulating effects of Neiguan (PC6) and Gongsun (SP4) on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in rats with functional dyspepsia

内关、公孙对功能性消化不良大鼠下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴的调节作用

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effects and the possible mechanisms of Neiguan (PC6) and Gongsun (SP4) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in rats with functional dyspepsia (FD), thus to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of the Eight Confluent Points.

Methods

Forty specific-pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a blank group, a model group, an electroacupuncture (EA) group, and a Western medicine group by the random number table method, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the blank group did not receive modeling or intervention. Rats in the other three groups were subjected to the FD with mood disorder model using the compound etiology modeling method. After the successful modeling, rats in the model group did not receive any interventions, rats in the Western medicine group received deanxit and mosaprid intervention, and those in the EA group received EA intervention on the ipsilateral Neiguan (PC6) and Gongsun (SP4) for 21 d. The sugar-water consumption rate was measured before the experiment and before and after interventions to assess the emotional status. The gastric emptying rate was measured after interventions to assess the gastrointestinal dynamics. The expression levels of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and adrenal corticosterone (CORT) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Compared with the blank group, the sugar-water consumption rate and the gastric emptying rate were decreased (P<0.01), and the hypothalamic CRH, pituitary ACTH, and adrenal CORT expression levels were increased (P<0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the sugar-water consumption rate and the gastric emptying rate were significantly increased (P<0.01), while the expression levels of hypothalamic CRH, pituitary ACTH, and adrenal CORT were significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the EA group and the Western medicine group. The differences between the EA group and the Western medicine group were not statistically significant (P>0.05).

Conclusion

The Eight Confluent Points Neiguan (PC6) and Gongsun (SP4) can improve the mood and gastrointestinal dynamics in FD rats, which may be achieved by down-regulating the hypothalamic CRH, pituitary ACTH, and adrenal CORT, as well as by correcting the HPA axis hyperfunction.

摘要

目的

探讨内关、公孙对功能性消化不良(FD)模型大鼠下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺(HPA)轴的作用及可能机制, 为八 脉交会穴的临床应用提供理论依据。

方法

将40只无特定病原体级Sprague-Dawley大鼠采用随机数字表法分为空白 组、模型组、电针组和西药组, 每组10只。空白组不造模, 不干预。其他三组采用复合病因造模法制作FD伴情绪障 碍模型。模型成功后, 模型组不干预; 西药组灌服黛力新合莫沙必利; 电针组行电针干预, 穴取同侧内关、公孙。治 疗21 d。分别于实验前及治疗前后检测糖水消耗率以评定情绪状态; 治疗后检测胃排空率评定胃肠动力; 应用酶联免 疫吸附法检测下丘脑促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素(CRH)、垂体促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)及肾上腺皮质酮(CORT)的表 达水平。

结果

与空白组相比较, 模型组大鼠糖水消耗率及胃排空率均下降(P<0.01); 下丘脑CRH、垂体ACTH及肾上腺 CORT表达水平均上升(P<0.01)。与模型组相比较, 电针组和西药组大鼠糖水消耗率及胃排空率均明显提升(P<0.01); 下丘脑CRH、垂体ACTH及肾上腺CORT表达水平明显下降(P<0.01)。电针组与西药组各项差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。

结论

八脉交会穴之内关、公孙能改善FD大鼠的情绪及胃肠动力; 其作用机制可能与降低下丘脑CRH、垂体ACTH和 肾上腺CORT表达水平, 纠正HPA轴功能亢进有关。

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Project of Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China ((湖南省自 然科学基金项目 No. 2020JJ4472); Traditional Chinese Medicine Planned Science and Technology Project of Hunan Province (湖南省中医药科研计划, No. 2021026, No. D2022063); the First Batch of Young Shennong Scholars and Talents Project in the “14th Five-Year Plan” of Hunan Province (湖南省“十四五”第一批青年神农学者人才项 目); Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Postgraduates’ Scientific Research Innovation Project (湖南 中医药大学研究生科研创新课题 No. 2021CX37).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410005, China

    Bowen Xing  (邢博文), Simin Qin  (覃思敏), Lifen Zhan  (展立芬), Yunfang Xie  (谢云方), Pingxiang Wu  (伍萍香), Yu Jiang  (江钰), Ke He  (何可) & Weiai Liu  (刘未艾)

  2. Zhangjiajie Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan Province, Zhangjiajie, 427000, China

    Haibing Shi  (石海斌)

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  1. Bowen Xing  (邢博文)
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  8. Ke He  (何可)
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Correspondence to Ke He  (何可) or Weiai Liu  (刘未艾).

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The treatment of animals conformed to the ethical criteria in this experiment.

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First Author: XING Bowen, M.M., resident physician

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Xing, B., Qin, S., Zhan, L. et al. Regulating effects of Neiguan (PC6) and Gongsun (SP4) on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in rats with functional dyspepsia. J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 21, 247–253 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-023-1382-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-023-1382-4

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