Effect of acupuncture at acupoint ST 36 on the expression of NOS in hypothalamus and adrenal in rats with cold-restrainted stress-induced ulcer / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the protection effect of acupuncture at acupoint ST 36 in rat with cold-restrainted stress-induced ulcer,and to observe the expression of NOS in hypothalamus and adrenal. Methods Ulcer Index in rats was used to study the protection effect of acupuncture, and and RT-PCR was employed to study the expression of NOS in hypothalamus and adrenal. Images were analyzed with semi-quantitative method. Results The ulcer Index was significantly decreased in rats with stress-induced ulcer by acupuncture as indicated by a comparison with those without acupuncture. The expression of NOS1 in hypothalamus was increased by acupuncture protect stress-induced ulcer. The increased expression of NOS2 was involved in stress-induced ulcer, and acupuncture decreased its expression. The expression of NOS3 in hypothalamus had the similar reaction to NOS2, but the decreased effect of acupuncture was limited. The expression of NOS1 and NOS3 in adrenal were increased by cold stress, only the expression of NOS1 could be repressed with acupuncture. There was no NOS2 expression in adrenal in stress-induced ulcer rats. Conclusion The protection effect in stress-induced ulcer exerted by acupuncture at acupoint ST 36 were mediated by increase of the physiological expression of NOS1 in hypothalamus as well as decrease of the expression of NOS2,NOS3 in hypothalamus and repress of the expression of NOS1 in adsenal.