ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of electroacupuncture at Tinggong and Yifeng on the local expression of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and glucose metabolism in the auditory cor‐tex of guinea pig .Methods Eighteen Adult pigmented guinea pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups .Guinea pigs in electroacupuncture at auricular points group (EAPG ,n= 7) were electroacupunctured at Tinggong and Yifeng acupoints simultaneously for 15 minutes every day ,and electroacupunctur lasted 7 days .The electroacupuncture at non acupoint group (ENAG ,n=6) was electroacupunctured at non acupoints for the same time .The control group (CG ,n=5) received no treatment .After anesthetized ,guinea pigs were injected 18 F-FDG via dorsocuboidal vein , and scanned by PET/CT .PET image and CT image were processed and reconstructed in the workstation to observe the uptake of imaging agent in the brain of guinea pigs .The maximum SUV values and its ratios between auditory cortex and cerebellum were measured .The expression of IGF-1 mRNA were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR .The results were analyzed by the one-way ANOVA and P<0 .05 means statistical significance . Results 1 .Changes in glucose energy metabolism in the auditory cortex .The ratios of the maximum SUV value betweenthe auditory cortex and cerebellum were 0 .75 ± 0 .06 ,0 .84 ± 0 .05 and 0 .71 ± 0 .06 for CG ,EAPG and ENAG re‐spectively .There was a significant difference between the CG and EAPG (P=0 .042) ,the EAPG and ENAG (P=0 .009) ,and no significant difference between the CG and ENAG (P=0 .361) .2 .The fold changes in IGF-1 mR‐NA were 1 .34 ± 0 .24 ,2 .03 ± 0 .36 and 0 .92 ± 0 .23 for CG ,EAPG and ENAG respectively .There was a significant increase in IGF-1 mRNA expression in auditory cortex of the EAPG (P=0 .002 ,compared with the CG) ,and a significant difference between the EAPG and ENAG groups (P<0 .001) .Conclusion 1 .Acupuncturing at Tinggong and Yifeng point can improve glucose metabolism in the auditory cortex of guinea pig . 2 . Acupuncturing at Tinggong and Yifeng point can result in increase of the local expression of IGF-1 in the auditory cortex of guinea pig .