Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture stimulation of "Taichong"(LR 3)

"Qimen"(LR 14)

etc.on hepatic platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) signal pathway activity at the protein and mRNA levels in hepatic fibrosis rats.Methods Forty-six SD rats were randomly divided into control(10 rats)

model(12 rats)

acupuncture(12 rats) and non-acupoint(12 rats) groups.Hepatic fibrosis model was established by intraperitoneal injection of mixture solution of 50% CCl4 and olive oil [1∶1

3 times on the 1st week(W)

twice/W thereafter for 5 more weeks].During modeling

acupuncture stimulation of "Taichong"(LR 3)

"Qimen"(LR 14)

"Ganshu"(BL 18) and "Zusanli"(ST 36) was conducted simultaneously.At the end of the experiments

all the rats were sacrificed for collecting their liver and blood samples

followed by separation of the hepatic stellate cells(HSCs).ELISA

Western blot and Real-time quantitative PCR techniques were used to detect the content of serum PDGF and expression levels of PDGF-β receptor(PDGF-β R)

extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK1/2)

c-jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) and P 38 genes and proteins of HSCs

respectively.Results Compared to the control group

serum PDGF content

and expression levels of PDGF-β R mRNA and protein

ERK mRNA and protein and P 38 protein of HSCs in the model group were upregulated significantly(P<0.01

P<0.05).In comparison with the model group

serum PDGF content

and the expression levels of PDGF-β R mRNA and protein

ERK mRNA and protein of HSCs in the acupuncture group were down-regulated appa-rently(P<0.05

P<0.01).No significant differences were found between the acupuncture and non-acupoint groups in serum PDGF content and between the model group and non-acupoint group in the expression levels of PDGF-β R mRNA and protein

ERK mRNA and protein

JNK protein and P 38 protein of HSCs

as well as between the model group and acupuncture group in the expression levels of JNK protein and P 38 protein of HSCs(P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture intervention can effectively down-regulate serum PDGF content

and expression levels of PDGF-β R mRNA and protein

ERK mRNA and protein of HSCs in liver fibrosis rats

which may contribute to its effect in improving liver fibrosis through down-regulating PDGF signal pathway activity.