Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)of"Zusanli"(ST 36)on mitochondrial oxidative stress of skeletal muscle in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS)based on adenosine 5′-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/peroxlsome proliferator-activated receptor-γcoactivator-1α(PGC-1α )signaling

in order to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of CFS.Methods Forty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control

CFS model

EA-Zusanli(ST 36)and EA-non-acupoint groups(n=10 rats in each group).The CFS model was established by forced exhausted load-bearing swimming(twice daily)

chronic constraint(1 h)and sleep deprivation(20 h/day)for 14 days.Following modeling

EA(2 Hz/100 Hz

2 V)was applied to bilateral Zusanli(ST 36)or non-acupoint(about 10-15 mm superior to the bilateral Iliac creast and about 20 mm lateral to the posterior median line)for 20 min

once a day for 10 days.The expression levels of ATP synthase

AMPK

phosphorylated(p)-AMPK

silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog-1(SIRT 1)and PGC-1α proteins

and ATP synthase

SIRT 1 and PGC-1α mRNAs of the quadriceps femoris muscle were detected by Western blot and fluorescence quantitative PCR

respectively.The rats' grabbing force was detected by using agrabbing-force detector.Results Compared with the normal group

the grabbing force

and the expression levels of ATP synthase and PGC-1α proteins and mRNAs were significantly decreased(P<0.05

P<0.01)

while the expression of SIRT 1 protein was significantly up-regulated(P<0.05)in the CFS model group.Following EA intervention

the grabbing force and the expression levels of ATP synthase mRNA

SIRT 1 and PGC-1α proteins and mRNAs

and p-AMPK/AMPK were significantly up-regulated in the EA-Zusanli(ST 36)group(P<0.05

P<0.01).Conclusion EA of ST 36 can raise the grabbing force of CFS rats

which may be related to its effects in up-regulating the expression of ATP synthase mRNA

SIRT 1 and PGC-1α proteins and mRNAs

and p-AMPK/AMPK to reduce mitochondrial oxidative stress reaction and in increasing ATP synthesis.