Objective To observe the immunoregulatory effect of electroacupuncture(EA)intervention for muscular dystrophy chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)rats

so as to investigate its underlying mechanism in improving respiratory function.Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups:normal

model

EA

exercise

and EA+exercise(n=8 in each).The muscular dystrophy COPD model was established by placing the rats in a closed box to be exposed to cigarette smoke(3-10 cigarettes/time)for 60 min

twice daily

6 days a week for 90 days.The EA

exercise and EA+exercise interventions were given beginning from day 80 after exposure to cigarette smoke.EA(2 Hz/40 Hz

6 mA)was applied to"Danzhong"(CV 17)

"Qihai"(CV 6)

"Zhongwan"(CV 12)

"Liangmen"(ST 21)and bilateral"Quchi"(LI 11)for 10 min

once every other day

for 20 times.The swimming exercise was conducted by forcing the rat to swim in a water box for 10 min

once every other day

for 20 times.The rat's lung function including the resistance of inspiration(RI)

functional residual capacity(FRC)

pulmonary dynamic compliance(Cdyn)

etc.

was detected under anesthesia.Pathological changes of the lung tissue were detected by H.E.staining

and the contents of serum TNF-alpha

IL-6 and IL-1 beta assayed by ELISA.Results After 80 days' exposure to the cigarette smoke

the rats' body weight values in the model

EA

exercise and EA+exercise groups were significantly lower than that of the normal group(P<0.05).Moreover

the RI and FRC levels were significantly increased

and the Cdyn level was remarkably decreased in the model group relevant to the normal group(P<0.01).Following the intervention

both RI and FRC levels were significantly down-regulated in the EA

exercise and EA+exercise groups relevant to the model group(P<0.05)

suggesting an improvement of the lung function.But the decreased Cdyn level had no marked improvement in the 3 treatment groups relevant to the model group(P>0.05).The numbers of monocytes and lymphocytes of the lung tissue

and the contents of serum TNF-α

IL-6 and IL-1βwere significantly higher in the model group than in the normal group(P<0.01)

and significantly lower in the EA

exercise and EA+exercise groups than in the model group(P<0.05)

except monocytes in the exercise group(P>0.05).No significant differences were found among the EA

exercise and EA+exercise groups in the levels of RI and FRC

pulmonary monocytes and serum IL-6 and IL-1β(P>0.05).The body weight was significantly higher in the exercise and EA+exercise groups than in the EA group

and the pulmonary lymphocytes and serum TNF-αobviously lowered in the EA group than in the exercise group(P<0.05).H.E.staining showed deformation of the bronchial tube cavity

detachment and flattening of the bronchial mucosal epithelial cilia

hyperplasia of Goblet cells

infiltration of abundant inflammatory cells in the submucosal layer and muscular layer

more secretions in the bronchovascular cavity

incomplete alveolar structure

thinning and rupture of the alveolar wall

and expansion of the alveolar cavity to form large pulmonary vesicles after modeling

which was obviously milder in the 3 treatment groups.Conclusion EA intervention can improve the pulmonary function and pathological changes in pulmonary muscular dystrophy COPD rats

which is associated with its effects in reducing pulmonary monocytes and lymphocytes and serum TNF-α

IL-6 and IL-1βcontents

suggesting an enhancement of immunoregulation.