ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the influences of electroacupuncture(EA) on the morphological changes in neurons and glia cells in sacral dorsal commissural nucleus(SDCN) of rats with ulcerative colitis(UC),and study the mechanism of acupuncture in modulating central nervous system in UC.Methods Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly assigned to four groups: control group,UC model group,EA Tsusanli group(UC plus EA at Tsusanli acupoint) and EA non-acupoint group(UC plus EA non-acupoint group).According to the acupuncture duration,EA Tsusanli group was divided into three subgroups: 1-day,3-day and 5-day subgroup(8 rats for each subgroup).UC model of rats was reproduced by instillation of a solution containing ethanol and 2,4,6,-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid(TNBS) into the distal colon.When the treatment was ended,all the rats were sacrificed and SDCN slides were prepared.The expressions of Fos,glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) and OX42 immunoreactivity in SDCN were assessed and calculated by using single or double immunohistochemical methods.Results In the three experimental groups,the Fos-positive neurons,GFAP-positive astrocytes and OX42-positive microglia were mainly expressed in SDCN.In UC model group and EA non-acupoint group,the expressions of Fos,GFAP and OX42 immunoreactivity were stronger than those in EA Tsusanli group(P