Increase in Plasma Glucose Lowering Action of Rosiglitazone by Electroacupuncture at Bilateral Zusanli Acupoints (ST.36) in Rats

Pai, Hui-Ching; Tzeng, Chung-Yuh; Lee, Yu-Chen; Chang, Chin-Hsien; Lin, Jaung-Geng; Cheng, Juei-Tang; Chang, Shih-Liang

doi:10.1016/S2005-2901(09)60047-9

« Previous Next »Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies
Volume 2, Issue 2 , Pages 147-151, June 2009

Increase in Plasma Glucose Lowering Action of Rosiglitazone by Electroacupuncture at Bilateral Zusanli Acupoints (ST.36) in Rats

Hui-Ching Pai
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan
Chung-Yuh Tzeng
- Department of Orthopedics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan
Yu-Chen Lee
- Department of Acupuncture, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan
Chin-Hsien Chang
- Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan
Jaung-Geng Lin
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan
Juei-Tang Cheng
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
Shih-Liang Chang
- Department of Medicinal Botanicals and Health Care, Da-Yeh University, Chunghwa County, Taiwan
- School of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan
- Corresponding author. 168, University Road, Dacun, Changhua, Taiwan 51591, R.O.C.

Received 15 January 2009; accepted 7 April 2009.

Abstract

Objectives

Hypoglycemia induced by electroacupuncture (EA) is due to an increase of insulin secretion and/or mediation of β-endorphin. We applied EA at the Zusanli (ST.36) acupuncture point (acupoint) in combination with rosiglitazone (TZD) administration to evaluate their effect on plasma glucose and to explore possible mechanisms of action.

Methods

Thirty six normal adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: the 0.1 mg/kg TZD group (0.1TZD), 0.1 mg/kg TZD and EA group (0.1TZD + EA), EA group, and control group. In other experiments, streptozotocin was used to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus in neonatal rats; these were then randomly divided into a 0.1TZD group, 0.1TZD + EA group, and EA group and changes in plasma glucose and insulin concentrations evaluated.

Results

A marked hypoglycemic response was observed in the normal rat 0.1TZD, 0.1TZD + EA and EA groups, with the response more significant in the 0.1TZD + EA group than in the 0.1TZD group. Among the diabetic animals, the hypoglycemic responses in the 0.1TZD + EA and EA groups were greater than in the 0.1TZD group. In both the normal and diabetic rats, insulin secretion was increased by EA or 0.1TZD + EA treatment, but not by 0.1TZD.

Conclusions

The plasma glucose lowering action of rosiglitazone was increased by EA in both normal and diabetic rats, indicating that the application of EA may enhance the hypoglycemic action of this insulin sensitizer.

Key words: electroacupuncture , insulin , plasma glucose , rosiglitazone , type 2 diabetes mellitus