ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of acupoint thread-embedding at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Fenglong" (ST 40) on the macrophage polarization of epididymis adipose tissue in obese mice, and to explore the action mechanism of acupoint thread-embedding on weight control.@*METHODS@#Among 30 male C57BL/6 mice, 10 mice were randomly selected and fed with normal diet, and the remaining 20 mice were fed with high-fat diet to establish the obesity model. Sixteen mice with successful obesity model were randomly divided into a model group and an acupoint thread-embedding group, 8 mice in each group. Eight mice were selected from mice which were fed with normal diet as the normal group. On the next day of successful modeling, acupoint thread-embedding was performed at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Fenglong" (ST 40) in the acupoint thread-embedding group, once every 10 days for 4 times. The body weight was recorded at 0, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 days into intervention; the level of glucose metabolism was compared after intervention; the level of lipid metabolism and weight of epididymal adipose tissue were compared at the end of the intervention; the mRNA expression of M1 and M2 macrophage-related cytokines interleukin-10 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were detected by real-time PCR; the mRNA and protein expression of M1 macrophage labeled inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and M2 macrophage labeled arginase-1 (Arg-1) were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal group, the body weight at 0, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 days into intervention in the model group was increased (@*CONCLUSION@#Acupoint thread-embedding at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Fenglong" (ST 40) may play a role in weight control by regulating the polarization of macrophages.