Molecular changes in remote tissues induced by electro-acupuncture stimulation at acupoint ST36.

To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment on regions remote from the application, we measured cellular, enzymatic, and transcriptional activities in various internal tissues of healthy rats. The EA was applied to the well-identified acupoint ST36 of the leg. After application, we measured the activity of natural killer cells in the spleen, gene expression in the hypothalamus, and the activities of antioxidative enzymes in the hypothalamus, liver and red blood cells. The EA treatment increased natural killer cell activity in the spleen by approximately 44%. It also induced genes related to pain, including 5-Hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 3a (Htr3a) and Endothelin receptor type B (Ednrb) in the hypothalamus, and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase in the hypothalamus, liver, and red blood cells. These findings indicate that EA mediates its effects through changes in cellular activity, gene expression, and enzymatic activity in multiple remote tissues. The sum of these alterations may explain the beneficial effects of EA.

Acupuncture stimulation for motor cortex activities: a 3T fMRI study.

The acupoint, GB34, located in the back of the knee, is known to be effective in recovering motor function after a stroke. This study uses a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study with 3T scanner to investigate whether or not acupuncture of GB34 produces a significant response of the modulation of somatomotor areas. A fMRI of the whole brain was performed in ten normal healthy subjects during two task stimulations of acupuncture manipulation on GB34 and sham points, inserting and twisting the needle for 25 seconds at a rate of approximately 120 times per minute; the needle manipulation was paused for a duration of 25 seconds as a control state. The process was repeated four times to have four epochs of stimulation. Bilateral sensorimotor areas (BA 3, 4, 6 and 7) showed approximately 6% of stimulation-related BOLD signal contrast, whereas very few areas were activated when sham stimulation was given. Acupuncture stimulation in GB34 modulates the cortical activities of the somatomotor area in humans. The present findings may shed light on the CNS mechanism of motor function by acupuncture, and form a basis for future investigations of motor modulation circuits in stroke patients.

Effects of moxibustion to zusanli (ST36) on alteration of natural killer cell activity in rats.

Moxibustion is one of the major healing techniques in Oriental medicine. It has been widely used in many diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto disease, breech presentation, etc. However, till now, effects of moxibustion on natural killer (NK) cell activity and relations between sympathetic nerve system (SNS) and the immune alteration induced by moxibustion were not well studied. This study was designed to evaluate effects of moxibustion on NK cell activity and the intervention of SNS in the alteration of NK cell activity induced by moxibustion. Splenic NK cell cytotoxicity was measured in a standard 4-hour 51Cr release assay. We measured the NK cell cytotoxicity after moxibustion stimulation for 1, 3, 5 and 7 days, and also measured the NK cell cytotoxicity after 3 and 7 days burn stimulation with similar temperature. Interleukin (IL)-2, -4 and interferon (INF)-gamma in serum were measured by rat IL-2, -4 and INF-gamma ELISA test kit. To evaluate the effects of sympathectomy on alteration of NK cell cytotoxicity, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA: 50 mg/kg) was used. We showed that NK cell activity of moxibustion stimulation group increased at the 3rd day, and declined at the 7th day in comparison with that of the control group. In the moxibustion stimulation group, NK cell activity was significantly higher than the sham group at the 3rd day. On the contrary, in the burn stimulation group, NK cell activity was significantly higher than that of the sham groups at 3rd and 7th days. INF-gamma level after 3 days in the moxibustion stimulation group was significantly higher than that of the sham group. IL-2 level among groups were not different. IL-4 was not detected in serum with this method. Sympathectomy abolished the NK cell activity alteration induced by moxibustion. The results suggest that moxibustion modulates NK cell activity, along with INF-gamma, and SNS is mediating these effects.

Effect of Achyranthes bidentata Blume on 3T3-L1 Adipogenesis and Rats Fed with a High-Fat Diet.

The present study investigated the antiobesity effect of Achyranthes bidentata Blume root water extract in a 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation model and rats fed with a high-fat diet. To investigate the effect of Achyranthes bidentata Blume on adipogenesis in vitro, differentiating 3T3-L1 cells in adipocyte-induction media were treated every two days with Achyranthes bidentata Blume at various concentrations (1 to 25 µ g/mL) for eight days. We found that Achyranthes bidentata Blume root inhibited 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation without affecting cell viability, and Western blot analysis revealed that phospho-Akt expression was markedly decreased, whereas there was no significant change in perilipin expression. Furthermore, administration of Achyranthes bidentata Blume root (0.5 g/kg body weight for six weeks) to rats fed with a high-fat diet significantly reduced body weight gain without affecting food intake, and the level of triglyceride was significantly decreased when compared to those in rats fed with only a high-fat diet. These results suggest that Achyranthes bidentata Blume root water extract could have a beneficial effect on inhibition of adipogenesis and controlling body weight in rats fed with a high-fat diet.

Effects of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi rhizome on 3T3-L1 adipogenesis and an animal model of obesity.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi (AMK) is an herbal medicine traditionally used for treatment of abdominal pain, gastrointestinal disease, obesity, and related complications. AIM OF THE STUDY: We investigated the effects and molecular mechanism of AMK rhizome water extract on 3T3-L1 adipogenesis and an animal model of obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To study the effect of AMK on adipogenesis in vitro, differentiating 3T3-L1 cells were treated every two days with AMK at various concentrations (1-25µg/ml) for eight days. Oil Red O staining was performed to determine the lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. To elucidate the inhibitory mechanism of AMK on adipogenesis, phosphorylation levels of Akt and expression of perilipin, were analyzed by Western blotting. AMK was administered orally to high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats to confirm its effect in vivo. RESULTS: AMK inhibited 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation in a dose-dependent manner without cellular toxicity. Phospho-Akt expression was highly decreased by AMK treatment, whereas there was no significant change in perilipin expression. AMK administration significantly reduced the body weight of rats fed a HFD. Plasma triglyceride levels were significantly lower in the AMK-treated HFD group than those in the HFD control group or normal diet (ND) group, although serum total, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol levels did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate an inhibitory effect of AMK on adipogenesis through reduction of an adipogenic factor, phospho-Akt. AMK had a beneficial effect, reducing body weight gain in a HFD-induced animal model of obesity.