Electroacupuncture alleviates diabetic peripheral neuropathy: Regulates mitochondrial biogenesis and redistribution in peripheral nerve fibers

Figure 5 Electroacupuncture has a greater effect on mitochondrial size distribution in intraepidermal nerve fibers than in keratinocytes. A: Representative immunofluorescence images showing protein gene product 9.5-positive intraepidermal nerve fibers (green), pyruvate dehydrogenase-stained mitochondria (red), and 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-stained nuclei (blue) in hind paw skin sections from rats in different groups. Micrographs of intraepidermal nerve fibers, keratinocytes, and their corresponding mitochondria outlined by white dotted and solid boxes are shown in the left and right panels, respectively. Nerve-specific mitochondrial surfaces (magenta) and keratinocyte-specific mitochondrial surfaces (turquoise) are shown in the left and right panels, respectively; B and C: Mitochondrial size distribution in intraepidermal nerve fibers was assessed by frequency histograms of the percentage distribution of nerve-specific mitochondrial volume, with fitted curves based on the mean value of each frequency (B), and heatmap of the percentage distribution of nerve-specific mitochondrial volume based on the control group data and plotted on a log₂ scale (C). A total of 473-509 mitochondria from 3 rats in each group were included; D and E: Mitochondrial size distribution in keratinocytes was assessed by frequency histograms of the percentage distribution of keratinocyte-specific mitochondrial volume, with fitted curves based on the mean value of each frequency (D), and heatmap of the percentage distribution of keratinocyte-specific mitochondrial volume based on the control group data and plotted on a log₂ scale (E). A total of 1486-1752 mitochondria from 3 rats in each group were included. Data are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 3). ^aP < 0.05 type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy group vs control group. ^bP < 0.01 type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy group vs control group. ^cP < 0.05 electroacupuncture group vs type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy group. ^dP < 0.01 electroacupuncture group vs type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy group. T2DPN: Type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy; EA: Electroacupuncture; Ctrl: Control; IENFs: Intraepidermal nerve fibers; Nuc: 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-stained nuclei; Mt: Mitochondrial.