Electroacupuncture Against Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rats: Effects on Gastric Contractility and in the Levels of TNF-α
Journal Title: Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research (BJSTR) - Year 2018, Vol 11, Issue 5
Abstract
Objective: To correlate the effects of the Electroacupuncture (EA) with the levels of TNF-α and the gastric contractility in both ulcerated and non-ulcerated control rats. Methods: Before the experiments, a magnetic marker was surgically implanted in the gastric serosa of all animals used in this study. Ten days after the surgical procedure, the animals were randomly assigned in groups (n=9 per group) whose received by gavage phosphate buffered saline (non-ulcerated control groups) or ethanol (ulcerated groups). EA treatments were applied every three days during 16 consecutive days in both control (C) and ulcerated (U) groups at sham (S) point (CS and US) and ST-36 acupuncture point (CST-36 and UST-36). Magnetic and electrical gastric activity recordings were also performed. TNF-α was measured by ELISA and all data were statistically analysed by ANOVA. Results: In the ulcerated animals which received sham EA (US), the frequency and amplitude of contractions were reduced, whereas the levels of TNF-α were increased. EA applied at UST-36 group had significantly increases in the frequency and in the amplitude of contractions. A clear inverse correlation (ρ=0.9) between motility parameters and TNF-α levels in ulcerated rats was observed. Conclusion: EA in ST-36 had improves the gastric contractility in ulcerated rats by a pathway that involves decreases in the levels of TNF-α.Gastric ulcer is a common disease with multiple etiologist and results of an imbalance that occurs between aggressive and protective factors in the gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa [1-3]. Besides, this condition is associated with increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) [4,5]. At least 4 million people worldwide suffer from peptic ulcer and its complications such as GI motor disturbances, indigestion and gastroparesis (i.e., slowed gastric emptying in the absence of obstruction) affects 10-20% of the patients [3,6,7]. Proton pump inhibitors are the most commonly drugs prescribed for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. Despite their safety and tolerability, the adverse effects associated with long-term use, lack of curative effects and high costs of the new drugs have renewed public interest in complementary and alternative treatments including Electroacupuncture (EA) [8,9]. Studies have shown that the needle-stimulation of Zusanli point (stomach 36, ST-36) outcomes preventive effects, which includes improvements in the immune function, decreasing the gastric acid secretion [10], and also in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the rat’s serum [11,12].In terms of motility, EA improves the gastric slow-wave rhythmicity and antral contractile activity [13]; however, there is still a lack of scientific background available to evidence on the clinical significance of EA in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. Electrogastrography (EGG) and Alternating Current Biosusceptometry (ACB) have been proposed as innovative and minimally invasive techniques for the study of GI motor activity [14]. ACB is a magnetic technique that was previously validated to register mechanical contractility resulting of the GI wall movements generated directly by the smooth muscle [14, 15]. EGG is employed towards monitoring gastric myoelectrical activity using cutaneous electrodes placed on the abdominal surface [16,17]. Both techniques in association enable to register electrical and mechanical activity simultaneously and in real time [18]. As the evidences concerning the benefits of EA in the improvement of gastric function in the peptic ulcer disease still need to be confirmed, the aim of our study was to correlate the effects of the EA with the levels of TNF-α and the gastric contractility in both ulcerated and non-ulcerated control rats.
Authors and Affiliations
Aline French de Lima Vitorino, Loyane Almeida Gama, Mariana Pirani Rocha, Luciana Aparecida Corá, José Ricardo de Arruda Miranda, Madileine Francely Américo
Keywords
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- EP ID EP592709
- DOI 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.11.002153
- Views 193
- Downloads 0
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