Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)plus treadmill exercise on the expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptorγcoactivator 1α(PGC-1α)

Irisin

AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)in skeletal muscle of diet-induced obesity(DIO)rats

so as to explore its mechanism underlying body reduction promotion.Methods Forty-two male SD rats were divided into normal diet(control

n=10)

high fat diet(model)

EA

treadmill exercise and EA plus treadmill exercise(combination)groups(n=8 in each of the latter 4 groups).The obesity model was established by feeding the rats with high fat diet.EA(2 Hz/15 Hz

1 mA)was applied to bilateral"Zusanli"(ST36)and"Tianshu"(ST25)for 30 min

5 times per week for a total of 8 weeks.Rats of the treadmill exercise group were forced to perform exercise on a treadmill(16 m/min)for 30 min

5 times per week for a total of 8 weeks.Rats in the combination group received the above-mentioned two methods.During the treatment

rats in the control group were fed with normal fodder

rats in other groups were fed with high fat fodder

and their body weight was measured once a week.The expression levels of PGC-1α

fibronectin typeⅢ domain containing 5(FNDC5)

AMPK mRNA and protein of skeletal muscle were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot

respectively.Results After modeling

the body weight was significantly increased(P<0.05)

and the expression levels of PGC-1αand FNDC5 mRNA and protein

AMPK mRNA and phosphorylated AMPK(p-AMPK)protein in the skeletal muscle were considerably decreased in the model group relevant to the control group(P<0.05).Following the treatment

the body weight was significantly down-regulated

while the expression levels of PGC-1αand FNDC5 mRNAs and proteins

AMPK mRNA and p-AMPK protein were obviously upregulated in the EA

treadmill exercise and combination groups relevant to the model group(P<0.05).The therapeutic effect of EA plus treadmill exercise was significantly superior to those of both simple EA and simple treadmill exercise in down-regulating the body weight

as well as in up-regulating the expression of PGC-1αand FNDC5 mRNAs and proteins

AMPK mRNA

and p-AMPK protein(P<0.05).Conclusion Both EA and treadmill exercise can significantly increase the expression of PGC-1α

FNDC5 and p-AMPK in skeletal muscle of DIO rats

suggesting their efficacy in restoring fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle cells and improving mitochondrial function

which may contribute to their function in body reduction.The therapeutic effect of EA plus treadmill exercise is better than that of simple EA and simple treadmill exercise.