Yuan-Chiang Chung1,2, Ying-I Chen2, Chih-Ming Lin2,3, Su-Wei Chang2, Tai-Hao Hsu4, Wai-Jane Ho2, Jaug-Geng Lin5, Shih-Liang Chang2,5,6, Chung-Yuh Tzeng2,7. 1. Department of Surgery, Cheng Ching Hospital, Taichung City. 2. Department of Medicinal Botanicals and Health Applications, Da-Yeh University, Dacun. 3. Department of Neurology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua. 4. Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Da-Yeh University, Dacun. 5. School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City. 6. College of Biotechnology and Bioresource, Da-Yeh University, Changhua. 7. Department of Orthopedics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung City.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that electroacupuncture (EA) induces a glucose-lowering effect by improving insulin resistance (IR) and reduces plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels in rats with steroid-induced insulin resistance (SIIR). In addition, EA can activate cholinergic nerves and stimulate endogenous opioid peptides to lower plasma glucose in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the glucose-lowering effects of 15 Hz EA at bilateral ST36 in combination with acarbose (ACA). We hypothesized that EA combined with ACA would produce a stronger glucose-lowering effect than ACA alone. METHODS: In this study, normal Wistar rats and SIIR rats were randomly divided into two groups: ACA and ACA + EA. To explore the potential mechanisms underlying the glucose-lowering effect, plasma FFA/insulin and insulin transduction signal pathway proteins were assayed. RESULTS: Combined ACA + EA treatment had a greater glucose-lowering effect than ACA alone in normal Wistar rats (-45% ± 3% vs -19% ± 3%, p < 0.001) and SIIR model rats (-43% ± 2% vs -16% ± 6%, p < 0.001). A significant reduction in plasma FFA levels, improvement in homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) index (-48.9% ± 4.0%, p < 0.001) and insulin sensitivity index (102% ± 16.9%, p < 0.001), and significant increases in insulin receptor substrate 1, glucose transporter 4, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ protein expressions in skeletal muscle, were also observed in the ACA + EA group of SIIR rats. CONCLUSION: Combined EA and ACA therapy had a greater glucose-lowering effect than ACA monotherapy; this combined therapy could be more effective at improving IR in SIIR rats, which may be related to a reduction in plasma FFA levels and an elevation of insulin signaling proteins. Whether this combined therapy has an effect in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients still needs to be explored.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that electroacupuncture (EA) induces a glucose-lowering effect by improving insulin resistance (IR) and reduces plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels in rats with steroid-induced insulin resistance (SIIR). In addition, EA can activate cholinergic nerves and stimulate endogenous opioid peptides to lower plasma glucose in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the glucose-lowering effects of 15 Hz EA at bilateral ST36 in combination with acarbose (ACA). We hypothesized that EA combined with ACA would produce a stronger glucose-lowering effect than ACA alone. METHODS: In this study, normal Wistar rats and SIIR rats were randomly divided into two groups: ACA and ACA + EA. To explore the potential mechanisms underlying the glucose-lowering effect, plasma FFA/insulin and insulin transduction signal pathway proteins were assayed. RESULTS: Combined ACA + EA treatment had a greater glucose-lowering effect than ACA alone in normal Wistar rats (-45% ± 3% vs -19% ± 3%, p < 0.001) and SIIR model rats (-43% ± 2% vs -16% ± 6%, p < 0.001). A significant reduction in plasma FFA levels, improvement in homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) index (-48.9% ± 4.0%, p < 0.001) and insulin sensitivity index (102% ± 16.9%, p < 0.001), and significant increases in insulin receptor substrate 1, glucose transporter 4, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ protein expressions in skeletal muscle, were also observed in the ACA + EA group of SIIR rats. CONCLUSION: Combined EA and ACA therapy had a greater glucose-lowering effect than ACA monotherapy; this combined therapy could be more effective at improving IR in SIIR rats, which may be related to a reduction in plasma FFA levels and an elevation of insulin signaling proteins. Whether this combined therapy has an effect in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients still needs to be explored.