Objective: To study the mechanism of electroacupuncture(EA) combined with medicine in adjusting the expression of mucosal IFN-γ and IL-12 in ulcerative colitis rats.Methods: Fifty SD rats were averagely randomized into normal control

model

EA

medication and EA+medication groups.Ulcerative colitis model was established by using immunity(intramuscular injection of tissue antigen of the ulcerative colitis patient's colonic mucous and Freund adjuvant) plus local stimulation(enema of 3% formalin) methods.For rats of EA and EA+medication groups

EA(2 Hz

4 mA

continuous electric pulses) was applied to bilateral "Zusanli"(ST 36) for 20 min

once daily

continuously for 10 days.For rats of medication and EA+medication groups

Salicylazosulfapyridine(SASP) solution(3 mL) was given by intra-gastric perfusion

twice daily

continuously for 10 days.At the end of experiments

the rats were killed for sampling colonic tissues.The tissue was embedded with paraffin and stained with HE and immunohistochemical techniques separately for observing morphological changes of the colonic mucous membrane and expression of IFN-γ and IL-12.Results: Compared with normal group

the immuno-reactive positive cells of IFNγ and IL-12 increased significantly in model group.In comparison with model group

the expression of IFN-γ and IL-12 in EA

medication and EA+medication groups were significantly lower(P<0.05

0.01)

indicating that EA

medication and EA plus medication all could suppress the expression of IFN-γ and IL-12 in the colonic mucous membrane.No significant differences were found among EA and medication and EA+medication groups in these two indexes(P>0.05)

but the values of IFN-γ and IL-12 in EA+medication group were closer to those of normal control group.In model group

tissue lesion such as large area of erosion

ulceration

congestion/ hemorrhage

edema

inflammatory cell infiltration

partial colonic mucous necrosis

etc was seen

while in EA

medication and EA+medication groups

these changes were lighter.Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with medicine therapy can effectively suppress experimental ulcerative colitis induced abnormal expression of IFN-γ and IL-12

which may contribute to its effect in relieving ulcerative colitis.