Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on inflammatory responses during intestinal mucosal barrier damage caused by gastrointestinal surgery in rats / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on inflammatory responses during intestinal mucosal barrier damage caused by gastrointestinal surgery in the rats.Methods:Forty-five healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 7-8 weeks, weighing 220-260 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=15 each) by a random number table method: control group (C group), gastrointestinal surgery group (S group), and TEAS group (T group). Rats underwent pylorectomy and Roux-en-Y gastrojejunal anastomosis to establish gastrointestinal surgery models in S and T groups, while group C received no treatment.In group T, bilateral Zusanli and Hegu acupoints were stimulated with disperse-dense waves, current intensity 5 mA, frequency 2 Hz, from 30 min before surgery until the end of operation.Only electrode patches were applied, but no stimulation was applied in group S. Five rats were randomly selected from each group and sacrificed at 12, 24 and 48 h after surgery (T 1-3), and ileal tissues were taken after anesthesia.The pathological changes of ileal tissues were observed with a light microscope and scored according to Chiu.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine contents of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), diamine oxidase (DAO) and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP). Western blot was used to detect the expression of occludin, claudin-3 and ZO-1.The immunohistochemical method was used to determine the percentage of occludin, claudin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) positive cells. Results:Compared with group C, Chiu′s scores and contents of ileal IL-6, TNF-α, DAO and I-FABP were significantly increased, the percentage of occludin, claudin-3 and ZO-1 protein positive cells was decreased, and the expression of occludin, claudin-3 and ZO-1 was down-regulated at T 1-3 in group S and group T ( P<0.05). Compared with group S, Chiu′s scores and contents of ileal IL-6, TNF-α, DAO and I-FABP were significantly decreased, the percentage of occludin, claudin-3 and ZO-1 protein positive cells was increased, and the expression of occludin, claudin-3 and ZO-1 was up-regulated at T 1-3 in group T ( P<0.05). Conclusion:TEAS can reduce the intestinal mucosal barrier damage caused by gastrointestinal surgery by inhibiting the inflammatory response in rats.