Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)on expression of hypothalamic sirtuin 1(SIRT1)and proopiomelanocortin(POMC)

and body weight

food-intake

blood glucose

and blood lipid levels in obese rats

so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of obesity.Methods Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal

model

EA

and sham EA groups(n=10 rats in each group).The obesity model was established by feeding the rats with high fat diet.EA(2 Hz

1 mA)was applied to "Zusanli"(ST36)

"Zhongwan"(CV12)

"Guanyuan"(CV4)and "Fenglong"(ST40)or sham acupoints(about 5 mm beside each acupoint

shallow needling)for 20 min

once every other day for 8 weeks.The rats' body weight and food-intake were recorded.The blood glucose(fasting plasma glucose:FPG

postprandial plasma glucose:PPG)and blood lipids(triglyceride:TG

total cholesterol:TC

non esterified fatty acid:NEFA)were assayed by using an automatic biochemical analyzer.The protein and mRNA expression levels of SIRT1 and POMC in the hypothalamus were detected by Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR

respectively.Results In comparison with the normal group

the body weight

foodintake

blood lipids

and PPG levels were significantly increased(P<0.05

P<0.01)

and the expression levels of SIRT1 protein and mRNA in the hypothalamus were significantly doun-regulated in the model group(P<0.05).Following EA

the body weight

food-intake

blood lipids

and PPG levels were considerably down-regulated(P<0.01

P<0.05)

and the expression levels of SIRT1 and POMC protein and mRNA in the hypothalamus were significantly up-regulated in the EA group rather than those in the sham EA and the model groups(P<0.05).Conclusion EA can reduce the obese rats' body weight

food-intake

blood lipids and blood glucose

which may be associated with its effect in up-regulating the SIRT1 and POMC expression of hypothalamus.