Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)on pancreatic glucagon-like peptide-1receptor(GLP-1R)

pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1(PDX-1)protein expression and blood glucose in type 2diabetes rats

so as to explore the underlying mechanism of EA treatment in improving type 2diabetes.Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into blank control group

model group

"Weiwanxiashu"(EX-B 3)group

"Xinshu"(BL 15)group

and "Shenshu"(BL 23)group

12 rats in each group.Diabetes model was established by feeding the rat with high fat and high sugar diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(35mg/kg).All the EA groups received 2Hz

2mA continuous wave treatment for 20 min everyday

6times per week lasting for 4weeks.Fasting blood glucose was measured by Roche glucometer before and after treatment.Hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining and Masson staining were used to detect pancreas morphology.GLP-1Rand PDX-1protein expressions in the pancreas were detected by Western blot.Results Compared to the blank control group

fasting blood glucose was significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01)

accompanied with shrunken islet area

reduced nucleus counts of isletβcells

and compensatorily enlargedβcell nucleus.Compared to the model group

EA intervention significantly reduced fasting blood glucose level only in the EX-B 3group(P<0.05)

partly restored pancreas morphology and nucleus counts of isletβcells in the EX-B 3

BL 15

and BL 23 groups.Compared to the blank control group

GLP-1Rand PDX-1expressions were decreased in the model group(P<0.01)

while EA treatment could obviously increase GLP-1Rexpression in the EX-B 3(P<0.01)

BL 15(P<0.01)and BL 23(P<0.05)groups compared with the model group.The expression of GLP-1Rin the BL 15 group was the highest among the three EA groups(P<0.05

P<0.01)

and that in the EX-B 3group was higher than in the BL 23group(P<0.05).There were no signifincant differences in the expression of PDX-1protein among the three EA groups(P>0.05).Conclusion EA treatment at EX-B 3can reduce blood glucose via regulating pancreas function

increasing pancreatic GLP-1Rexpression

and partly restoring the morphology of pancreas.