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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 28, 2006; 12(12): 1962-1965
Published online Mar 28, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i12.1962
Effect of electroacupunture on gastric mucosal intestinal trefoil factor gene expression of stress-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats
Xi-Ping Li, Jie Yan, Shou-Xiang Yi, Xiao-Rong Chang, Ya-Ping Lin, Zong-Bao Yang, Ai Huang, Rong Hu
Xi-Ping Li, Jie Yan, Shou-Xiang Yi, Xiao-Rong Chang, Ya-Ping Lin, Zong-Bao Yang, Ai Huang, Rong Hu, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hunan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang'sha 410007, Hunan Province, China
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 90209023
Correspondence to: Professor Jie Yan, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang'sha 410007, Hunan Province, China. yj5381159@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-731-5381159
Received: August 10, 2005
Revised: December 2, 2005
Accepted: December 6, 2005
Published online: March 28, 2006
Abstract

AIM:   To investigate electroacupunture(EA) at the acupoints of Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming(SMFY), Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Yangming(SMFY) on gastric mucosal intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) gene expression detection in stress-induced rats with gastric mucosal lesion, and to explore the regulatory mechanism and significance of EA-related gastric mucosal protective effect.

METHODS: Forty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Blank group, Model group, Model group+EA at acupoints of SMFY group(“SMFY group”), and Model group+EA at acupoints of GMFY group(GMFY group). All rats (except blank group) were made model by water immersion and restraint stress (WRS). Then the gastric mucosa tissue in each rat was taken off after assessment of gastric mucosal lesion index(GUI), and the expression of ITF mRNA of the tissues was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) method.

RESULTS: Compared with Model group(54.3 ± 1.34), the GUI value in SMFY group (31 ± 2.21) decreased significantly(P < 0.01), so did that in GMFY group (39.8 ± 1.62, P < 0.05), meanwhile GUI value in SMFY group was significantly lower than in GMFY group(P < 0.01). Compared with Model group (0.65 ± 0.01), EA had a tendency to improve the expression of gastric mucosal ITFmRNA gene: such tendency existed in GMFY group (0.66 ± 0.01) but with no signficant difference(P > 0.05), in SMFY group(0.76 ± 0.01) with an extremely obvious difference (P < 0.01), furthermore the expression in SMFY group was significantly higher than in GMFY group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: The gastric mucosal protective effect by EA at the acupoints of SMFY and GMFY was related to the expression variance of ITF, indicating certain meridian specificity exists. It could be one proof for the TCM theory “Relative particularity between SMFY and stomach”.

Keywords: EA; Relative particularity between Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming; Gastric mucosal damage; Stress; Intestinal trefoil factor; Gene expression