Electroacupuncture Attenuates Surgical Stress-Induced Reduction of T Lymphocytes through Modulation of Peripheral Opioid System / 中国结合医学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the action mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) on postoperative immunosuppression.@*METHODS@#Male C57BL/6 mice (5`-7 weeks old) were randomly divided into the sham injury group, the surgical trauma stressed group, the EA group [surgery + 2/100 Hz EA at Neiguan (PC 6)], and the EA+ Nal (surgery + EA + intraperitoneal injection of naloxone). Abdominal surgical trauma stress mice model was established. EA was performed on bilateral PC 6 acupoints by an EA apparatus (2/100 Hz) for 20 min once a day for 3 days. The mRNA expressions of MOR, DOR, and KOR in thymus and L3`-L5 dorsal root ganglions (DRG) were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and the protein expressions of MOR, DOR, and KOR in thymus were measured by Western blot. Flow cytometry assay was used to detect the levels of T lymphocyte subtypes in the peripheral blood.@*RESULTS@#Surgical trauma induced decreased the mRNA expression level of MOR in both thymus (P0.05). Furthermore, T lymphocyte population of CD3@*CONCLUSION@#EA may improve postoperative immunosuppression through the peripheral opioid system.