Objective To observe the effect of electroacupunctrue(EA)intervention or EA combined with dietary control on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR)-α

and liver fatty acid-binding protein(L-FABP)levels in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)rats

so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of NAFLD.Methods Sixty SD male rats were randomly divided into common diet(control)group(n=10)and high-fat diet group(n=45).The NAFLD model was established by feeding the animals with high-fat forage(HFF

including cholesterol

sodium cholate

propylthiouracil

sucrose

lard and common forage)for 5weeks.Forty NAFLD rats were then randomized into model

EA+HFF

low-fat forage(LFF)and EA+LFF groups(n=10rats in each group).EA(4Hz/20 Hz

3mA)was applied to ipsilateral"Zusanli"(ST 36)

"Sanyinjiao"(SP 6)and"Taichong"(LR 3)for 20 min

once daily for 4weeks.The pathologic changes of the hepatic tissue were detected by H.E.staining.Serum total cholesterol(TC)and triglyceride(TG)contents were determined by using enzymatic methods

serum free fat acids(FFA)content was detected by colorimetry.The expression levels of PPAR-αand L-FABP protein and gene of the liver tissue were determined by Western blot and RT-PCR

respectively.Results H.E.staining showed that the hepatocytes presented moderate or severe bullous adipose degeneration in rats of the model group

vesicular steatosis in the EA+HFF and LFF groups

turned to almost normal but with small amount of lipid droplets in the EA+LFF group.The contents of serum TC

TG and FFA were significantly higher in the model group than in the control group(P<0.05)

and were obviously decreased in the EA+HFF

LFF and EA+LFF groups in comparison with the model group(P<0.05).Compared to the control group

hepatic PPAR-αprotein and mRNA were markedly down-regulated in the model group

and hepatic L-FABP protein and mRNA considerably up-regulated in the model group(P<0.05).Following EA intervention and low fat diet feeding

PPAR-αprotein and mRNA were markedly up-regulated while L-FABP protein and mRNA remarkably down-regulated in the EA+HFF

LFF and EA+LFF groups(P<0.05).Conclusion EA intervention or EA combined with dietary control can relieve hepatic pathological changes in NAFLD rats

which may be related to its effects in down-regulating blood lipid level and hepatic L-FABP protein and mRNA expression and in up-regulating PPAR-αprotein and mRNA expression

and the effect of combined treatment was relatively better than simple EA or LFF treatment.