Effect of electro-acupuncture at Foot-Yangming Meridian on somatostatin and expression of somatostatin receptor genes in rabbits with gastric ulcer.

AIM: To discuss the protective effect of electroacupuncture at the Foot-Yangming Meridian on gastric mucosal lesion, somatostatin (SS) and the expression of SS receptor genes (SSR(1)mRNA ) in rabbits with gastric ulcer and to further explore the relative specificity of meridians and viscera at gene expression level.

METHODS

Forty rabbits were randomly divided into control group (A), gastric ulcer model group (B), Foot-Yangming Meridian group (C), Foot-Shaoyang Meridian group (D) and Foot-Taiyang Meridian group (E). The gastric ulcer model was prepared by infusing alcohol into stomach. Groups C-E were treated with electro-acupuncture at points along the above meridians using meridian stimulating instruments for 7 d respectively. By the end of treatment, the index of gastric ulcer was determined, the amount of epidermal growth factor(EGF) and somatostatin was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). SS-R(1)mRNA expression in gastric mucosa was determined by RT-PCR.

RESULTS

The value of EGF in model group was obviously lower (73.6+/-14.8 vs 91.3+/-14.9 pg/mL, P<0.01) than that in control group. The index of gastric ulcer, content of SS and expression of SSR1mRNA in gastric mucosa were significantly higher than those in control group (24.88+/-6.29 vs 8.50+/-2.98 scores, P<0.01; 2978.6+/-587.6 vs 1852.4+/-361.7 mIU/mL, P<0.01; 2.56+/-0.25 vs 1.04+/-0.36, P<0.01). The value of EGF in Foot-Yangming Meridian group was higher than that in model group (92.2+/-6.7 vs 73.6+/-14.8 pg/mL, P<0.01). The index of gastric ulcer, content of SS and expression of SS-R(1)mRNA in gastric mucosa were significantly lower than those in control group (10.88+/-3.23 vs 24.88+/-6.29 scores, P<0.01; 1800.2+/-488 vs 2978.6+/-587.6 mIU/mL, P<0.01; 1.07+/-0.08 vs 2.56+/-0.25 mIU/mL, P<0.01). Compared to the model group, the content of SS and expression of SSR1mRNA in gastric mucosa in Foot-Shaoyang Meridian group decreased (2441.0+/-488.vs 2978.6+/-587.6 mIU/mL, P<0.05;1.73+/-0.16 vs 2.56+/-0.25 mIU/mL, P<0.01). But the above parameters in Foot-Taiyang Meridian group did not improve and were significantly different from those in Foot-Yangming Meridian group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Electro-acupuncture at Foot-Yangming Meridian can protect gastric mucosa against injury. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of brain-gut peptides and the expression of SSR(1)mRNA.