ObjectiveTo observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)on inflammatory reaction and insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant obese(OIR)rats.MethodsThirteen male Wistar rats were randomly selected as the control group and fed with common diet. The other 39 rats were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to establish OIR model and then randomized into model

EA and sham EA groups. EA(2 Hz

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

"Fenglong"(ST40)

"Zhongwan"(CV12)and"Guanyuan"(CV4)for 15 min

once every other day for 8 weeks

and sham EA was applied to unilateral 4 control spots about 5 mm lateral to the aforementioned 4 acupoints after shallowly inserting acupuncture needles

but without electric current output. After 8 weeks' intervention

the body weight was recorded and the glucose infusion rate(GIR)measured using hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique. At the 6 th week of intervention

glucose contents of intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test(IPGTT)and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test(IPITT)were measured. The levels of serum insulin(INS)and inflammatory factors as C-reactive protein(CRP)

IL-6 and TNF-α were measured by using ELISA at the end of the treatment. The expression levels of IL-6

TNF-α

monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1)

IL-10 and IL-1β proteins and mRNAs in the abdominal adipose tissues were detected by Western blot and quantitative real time-PCR

separately. The CD68 expression(displaying infiltration of macrophages)of adipose tissue was detected using immunohistochemistry.ResultsAfter modeling

the contents of glucose of IPGTT at 30

60 and 120 min and those of IPITT at 15

30

60 and 120 min

serum INS

CRP

IL-6 and TNF-α

as well as the expression levels of IL-6

TNF-α

IL-1β and MCP-1 proteins and mRNAs and CD68 protein were significantly increased(P<0. 01

P<0. 05)

while the levels of GIR and IL-10 protein and mRNA were obviously decreased in the model group in comparison with those of the control group(P<0. 01)

suggesting an increase of inflammation and a decline of INS sensitivity. Following the interventions

the increased contents of glucose of IPGTT and IPITT

serum INS

CRP

IL-6 and TNF-α

expression levels of IL-6

TNF-α

IL-1β and MCP-1 proteins and mRNAs and CD68 protein

and the decreased levels of GIR and IL-10 protein and mRNA were evidently reversed in the EA group compared with the model group(P<0. 01

P<0. 05)rather than those in the sham EA group(P>0. 05).Conclusion EA can reduce the level of inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity in OIR rats.