BACKGROUND: In the domain of functional gastrointestinal disorders, Functional Dyspepsia (FD) stands out due to its widespread occurrence internationally. Historically, electroacupuncture (EA) has been employed as a therapeutic modality for FD, demonstrating notable clinical efficacy. OBJECTIVES: This research aimed to delve into the impact of EA on stress responses, minor duodenal inflammatory processes, and the integrity of the intestinal barrier within FD-affected rodent models while also elucidating the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were evenly distributed into three cohorts: a normal, a modeled FD, and an EA treatment group. The FD condition in the rats, barring those in the normal, was induced through a series of multifactorial procedures. For the EA cohort, the rats received electroacupuncture at the acupoints RN12 (Zhongwan) and ST36 (Zusanli) for 20 minutes daily over a span of one week. The gastric residue rate (GRR), intestinal propulsion rate (IPR), and changes in emotional state were measured in each group of rats. Additionally, serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and corticosterone (CORT) were detected, and the duodenal inflammatory condition and intestinal mucosal barrier status were observed through staining and fluorescence. The expression levels of Claudin-1, Junctional Adhesion Molecule 1 (JAM-1), Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF), and Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor 1 (CRF-R1) were also detected. RESULTS: The study demonstrated that EA had a positive effect on body weight and food intake, GRR, and IPR in FD rats. Additionally, the EA group showed a decrease in serum levels of CRH, ACTH, and CORT, as well as a decrease in the number of duodenal mast cells and tryptase content. Furthermore, the expression of tight junction proteins Claudin-1 and JAM-1 was increased in the EA group compared to the model group. EA also reduced the levels of CRF and CRF-R1 in the hypothalamus and duodenum. CONCLUSION: EA has been shown to improve the stress state of FD rats, inhibit the activation of mast cells in the duodenum, and reduce low-grade inflammatory response and damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier. It is believed that EA achieves these effects by modulating the expression of CRF and its receptors in the brain-gut interaction pathway through the CRF signaling pathway. This provides a new approach to treating FD.
