OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Zhongwan" (CV 12) on serum leptin level and expression of phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 (p-JAK 2) and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT 3) proteins in the liver tissue of obese rats. METHODS: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, manual acupuncture (MA) group and EA group (n = 8 in each group). The obese model was induced by high fat diet for 8 weeks. MA or EA (20 Hz, 1.5 V) stimulation was applied to bilateral "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Zhongwan" (CV 12) for 20 min, once daily for 4 weeks. The animals' body weight and length were recorded, and Lee's index was calculated. Serum leptin level and liver p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression levels were detected using radioimmunoassay and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: In comparison with the control group, the rats' body weight, Lee's index, and serum leptin content were remarkably increased in the model group (P<0.05), while hepatocellular p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression levels were significantly down-regulated in the model group (P<0.05). After treatment for 4 weeks, the levels of body weight, Lee's index, serum leptin were significantly reduced (P<0.05), and hepatocellular p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression in the MA and EA groups were considerably up-regulated compared with the model group (P<0.05). The effect of EA was apparently superior to that of MA in up-regulating p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both EA and MA stimulation can reduce the obese rats' body weight, and Lee's index, which may be closely associated with their effects in down-regulating serum leptin and in enhancing hepatocellular p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Zhongwan" (CV 12) on serum leptin level and expression of phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 (p-JAK 2) and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT 3) proteins in the liver tissue of obeserats. METHODS: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, manual acupuncture (MA) group and EA group (n = 8 in each group). The obese model was induced by high fat diet for 8 weeks. MA or EA (20 Hz, 1.5 V) stimulation was applied to bilateral "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Zhongwan" (CV 12) for 20 min, once daily for 4 weeks. The animals' body weight and length were recorded, and Lee's index was calculated. Serum leptin level and liver p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression levels were detected using radioimmunoassay and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: In comparison with the control group, the rats' body weight, Lee's index, and serum leptin content were remarkably increased in the model group (P<0.05), while hepatocellular p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression levels were significantly down-regulated in the model group (P<0.05). After treatment for 4 weeks, the levels of body weight, Lee's index, serum leptin were significantly reduced (P<0.05), and hepatocellular p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression in the MA and EA groups were considerably up-regulated compared with the model group (P<0.05). The effect of EA was apparently superior to that of MA in up-regulating p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both EA and MA stimulation can reduce the obeserats' body weight, and Lee's index, which may be closely associated with their effects in down-regulating serum leptin and in enhancing hepatocellular p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression.