Electroacupuncture of "Zusanli" (ST 36) Raises Muscular Force by Adjusting AMPK/PGC-1 α Signaling in Rats with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / 针刺研究

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Zusanli" (ST 36) on mitochondrial oxidative stress of skeletal muscle in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) based on adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/ peroxlsome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1 α (PGC-1 α) signaling, in order to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of CFS. METHODS: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, CFS model, EA-Zusanli (ST 36) and EA-non-acupoint groups (n=10 rats in each group). The CFS model was established by forced exhausted load-bearing swimming (twice daily), chronic constraint (1 h) and sleep deprivation (20 h/day) for 14 days. Following modeling, EA (2 Hz/100 Hz, 2 V) was applied to bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) or non-acupoint (about 10-15 mm superior to the bilateral Iliac creast and about 20 mm lateral to the posterior median line) for 20 min, once a day for 10 days. The expression levels of ATP synthase, AMPK, phosphorylated (p)-AMPK, silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog-1 (SIRT 1) and PGC-1 α proteins, and ATP synthase, SIRT 1 and PGC-1 α mRNAs of the quadriceps femoris muscle were detected by Western blot and fluorescence quantitative PCR, respectively. The rats' grabbing force was detected by using a grabbing-force detector. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the grabbing force, and the expression levels of ATP synthase and PGC-1 α proteins and mRNAs were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the expression of SIRT 1 protein was significantly up-regulated (P<0.05) in the CFS model group. Following EA intervention, the grabbing force and the expression levels of ATP synthase mRNA, SIRT 1 and PGC-1 α proteins and mRNAs, and p-AMPK/AMPK were significantly up-regulated in the EA-Zusanli (ST 36) group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EA of ST 36 can raise the grabbing force of CFS rats, which may be related to its effects in up-regulating the expression of ATP synthase mRNA, SIRT 1 and PGC-1 α proteins and mRNAs, and p-AMPK/AMPK to reduce mitochondrial oxidative stress reaction and in increasing ATP synthesis.