Objective: To study the mechanism of acupuncture in reducing body weight in hypothalamic obesity rats. Methods: 80 SD rats were randomly and evenly divided into normal control

model

acupuncture and medication groups. Obesity model was established by subcutaneous injection of 15% sodium glutamate solution (0.2 mL/10 g)

once daily and continuously for 5 days. Lee’s index

body weight and length

serum total cholesterol (TCh)

triglyceride (TG)

high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-Ch)

low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-Ch) were detected with routine biochemical techniques

and serum insulin

leptin and neuropeptide Y contents assayed with radioimmunoassay. EA (dense-sparse waves

frequency of 100 Hz

a suitable strength inducing local muscular tremor) was applied to bilateral “Zusanli” (ST 36)-“Sanyinjiao” (SP 6)

and “Guanyuan” (CV 4)-“Zhongwan”(CV 12) for 15 min

once daily and continuously for 28 days. Rats of medication group were fed with Sibutramine (4 mg/kg/d

28 days altogether). Results: Compared with normal control group

Lee’s index

wet weight of the left perirenal adipose tissue

the area of the lipocytes

serum TG

TCh and LDL-Ch

insulin

leptin and NPY contents and NYP content of the hypothalamus tissue of model group increased significantly (P<0.01); whereas

lipocyte number

serum HDL-Ch and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hypothalamic leptin contents of model group decreased significantly (P< 0.01). In comparison with model group

body weight

Lee’s index

wet weight of the left perirenal adipose tissue

area of the lipocytes

serum TG

TCh and LDL-Ch

insulin

leptin and NPY and hypothalamic NPY contents of acupuncture and medication groups lowered considerably (P<0.05～0.01)

while the number of lipocytes

serum HDL-Ch and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hypothalamic leptin contents of acupuncture and medication groups increased significantly (P<0.05～ 0.01). Comparison between acupuncture and medication groups showed that Lee’s index

serum TG

insulin

leptin and NPY and hypothalamic NPY contents of acupuncture group were significantly lower than those of medication group (P<0.05～0.01)

while the number of lipocytes

serum LPL and hypothalamic leptin contents of the former group were significantly higher than those of the later group (P<0.05～0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture has a good effect in reducing body weight by improving lipoprotein metabolism and regulating blood insulin

blood and hypothalamic leptin and NPY secretion.