OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on cytoskeleton protein-Vimentin (related to smooth muscle contraction) in rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).METHODS: Sixty female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal, model, EA and pinaverium bromide (PB) groups (n=15/group). The IBS-D model was established by the method of high lactose feeding and chronic unpredictable mild stress. The changes of body weight, gastric emptying and small intestine propulsion rates were observed. The morphological changes of colon were observed by HE staining. And Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of Vimentin protein in colon.RESULTS: The body weight, small intestine propulsion rate and expression of Vimentin protein of the model group were significantly higher than those of the normal group (all P<0.05), while the gastric emptying rate decreased (P<0.05). After treatment, the body weight and small intestine propulsion rate of the EA group and PB group decreased compared with those of the model group (all P<0.05). The gastric emptying rate was higher and the expression of Vimentin protein was lower in the EA group than those in the model group (both P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: EA at ST 36 can down-regulate the expression of Vimentin protein in colon, thus improving the gastrointestinal motility and regulating the contraction of smooth muscle cells of IBS rats.
Acupuncture Points Animals