Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)intervention of"Zusanli"(ST 36)

etc.on gastrointestinal motility and levels of insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1)and IGF-1receptor(IGF-1R)proteins in the gastric antrum in diabetic gastroparesis(DGP)rats

so as to study its mechanism underlying improvement of DGP.Methods Fifty SD rats

half male and half female

were randomly allocated to control

model

EA acupoint

EA non-acupoint and medication(metoclopramide)groups(n=10rats/group).The DGP model was induced by 2% streptozotocin(STZ

i.p.i.

55mg/kg)and high fatsugar forage for 8weeks.EA(10Hz/50 Hz

2mA)was applied to"Zusanli"(ST 36)

"Liangmen"(ST 21)

"Sanyinjiao"(SP 6)and non-acupoints(about 5mm lateral to ST 36

ST 21 and SP 6

respectively)for 20 min

one daily for 15 days

and 1.7% metocloppramide(1mL/100g)was given(gavage)to rats of the medication group

once daily for 15 days.After the treatment

the rats' general conditions were scored

the blood glucose level was determined using aglucometer

and the gastrointestinal mobility was evaluated by measuring the gastric emptying rate(GER)and the intestinal propulsion rates(IPR)marked by oral-infused phenol red solution(50mg/dL).The immunoactivity levels of IGF-1and IGF-1Rof gastric antrum tissue were detected by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results After modeling

the symptom integrative score

the blood glucose

IGF-1and IGF-1Rlevels were significantly increased(P<0.01)

and the GER and IPR were notably decreased relevant to the control group(P<0.01).After EA stimulation of ST 36

ST 21 and SP 6

the symptom score

blood glucose

and IGF-1 and IGF-1R levels of the gastric antrum were significantly reduced

while the GER and IPR were considerably increased(P <0.05

P<0.01).Except the GER and IPR were considerably increased in the medication group(P<0.05

P<0.01)

no significant changes were found in the symptom integrative score

the blood glucose

IGF-1 and IGF-1Rlevels in both EA non-acupoint and medication groups relevant to the model group(P>0.05)

the GER and IPR in the EA non-acupoint group(P>0.05).Compared with the EA acupoint group

the symptom integrative score

IGF-1 and IGF-1R levels were significantly increased in both EA non-acupoint and medication groups(P<0.05

P<0.01).Conclusion EA stimulation can improve gastrointestinal motility and lower blood glucose in DGP rats

which may be closely associated with its effectiveness in reducing IGF-1 and IGF-1R immunoactivity levels in gastric antrum.