Effects Of Electroacupuncture At Neiguan And Gongsun Points Of The Eight Meridian Intersection Points On Hypothalamic CRF And Its Receptors CRF1 And CRF2 In FD Rat

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture at Neiguan and Gongsun acupoints on depression-like behavior,visceral sensitivity and protein expression of hypothalamic CRF and its receptors CRF1 and CRF2 in FD rats,and to investigate the possible mechanisms of action of the electroacupuncture points "Neiguan" and "Gongsun" in the treatment of FD.Methods: Forty-five SPF-grade SD rats were divided into blank group(10 rats)and model reserve group(35 rats),and the model reserve group was used to make FD model by compound etiology modeling method: irregular feeding + swimming for 10 min + tail clamping stimulation for 30 min+ chronic restraint for 3 h.After successful modeling,the rats were randomly divided into model group(10 rats),electroacupuncture group(10 rats),and western medicine group(10 rats).At the end of the modeling period,the rats in the electroacupuncture group were subjected to electroacupuncture intervention and instilled with the same amount of saline,and the acupuncture points were "Neiguan" and "Gongsun" on both sides,with dense and sparse waves,frequency(10/50)Hz,current intensity 1 m A,for 30 min each time.The Western medicine group was instilled with Moxaburi and Dextran solution and bound for 30 min,and each group was intervened once/day for 21 days.At the end of the intervention,the depression-like behavior was assessed by the sugar-water consumption test,the visceral sensitivity was assessed by the abdominal wall withdrawal reflex(AWR),and the levels of CRF and its receptors CRF1 and CRF2 proteins in hypothalamus tissue were detected by Western blot.Results:1.Compared with the pre-molded rats,the post-molded rats were tired,dull-eyed,unresponsive,inactive,huddled in the corners,irritable,hard to catch,with yellowish hair,poor appetite,slow weight gain,unformed and smelly stools;the number of dressing,rising and grooming in the open field box was significantly reduced(P<0.05),suggesting that the modeling was successful.2.Compared with the blank group,the rate of sugar and water consumption of SD rats in the model group was significantly lower(P<0.05);compared with the model group,the rate of sugar and water consumption in the electroacupuncture and western medicine groups was significantly higher(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).3.When the balloon pressure rose to 20 mm Hg,the AWR scores of each group were not statistically significant(P>0.05),and when the balloon pressure gradually rose from 20 mm Hg to40,60 and 80 mm Hg,the AWR scores of rats in the blank group and the model group gradually increased;compared with the blank group,the AWR scores of SD rats in the model group increased significantly when the intra-balloon pressure was 40,60 and 80 mm Hg(P<0.05).Compared with the blank group,the AWR scores of SD rats in the model group increased significantly when the intra-balloon pressure was 40,60 and 80 mm Hg(P<0.05);compared with the model group,the AWR scores of SD rats in the electroacupuncture group and western medicine group decreased significantly when the intra-balloon pressure was 40,60 and 80 mm Hg(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).4.Compared with the blank group,the expression of CRF and its receptor CRF1 was increased and the expression of CRF2 receptor was decreased in the hypothalamus of SD rats in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the expression of CRF and its receptor CRF1 was decreased and the expression of CRF2 receptor was increased in the electroacupuncture and western medicine groups of SD rats(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:1.Electroacupuncture at Neiguan and Gongsun points can significantly improve depression-like behavior and visceral hypersensitivity in FD rats,which is worthy of clinical application.2.Electroacupuncture at Neiguan and Gongsun points can down-regulate hypothalamic CRF and CRF1 receptor protein content levels and up-regulate CRF2 receptor protein content levels,thus regulating the central CRF1-CRF2 receptor signaling balance pathway,which may be one of its mechanisms of action in the treatment of FD and deserves further in-depth study.