Objective To investigate the effect of manual acupuncture(MA)and electroacupuncture(EA)on histopathological changes

and levels of oxidative-stress related cytokines and key proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)pathway in ulcerative colitis(UC)rats

so as to reveal their mechanisms underlying improvement of UC.Methods Twenty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into control

model

EA and MA groups(n=7 rats per group).The UC model was established by enema of mixture solution of 5% 2

4

6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS

100 mg/kg).Rats of the control group received intra-rectal perfusion of normal saline.After modeling

the left "Quchi" (LI11)and "Zusanli"(ST36)were stimulated with EA(2—4 mA

8 Hz/25 Hz)or MA for 20 min

once every other day for consecutive 2 weeks.The rats in the control and model group were just anesthetized and fixed.At the end of experiments

the colon tissue was collected for observing histopathological changes with H.E.staining.The contents of oxidative stress-related factors as superoxide dismutase(SOD)

catalase(CAT)

malondialdehyde(MDA)

reduced glutathione(GSH)and total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC)were detected by ELISA

and the expression levels of key proteins of ERS as phosphorylated inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinaseα(p-IκBα)

phosphorylated p65(p-p65)

glucose regulated protein 78(GRP78)

phosphorylated protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(p-PERK)and phosphorylated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α(p-eIF2α)by using Western blot.Results After modeling

the colon tissues showed severe swelling

disordered arrangement of intestinal mucosal cells

hemorrhage with infiltration of inflammatory cell and partial loss of colon villus

which was relatively milder in the EA and MA groups.The colonic lesion score was remarkably increased in the model group in contrast to the control group(P<0.01)

and obviously reduced in both EA and MA groups relevant to the model group(P<0.01).The levels of SOD

CAT

GSH and T-AOC were all significantly decreased(P<0.01)

and the content of MDA

and expression levels of p-IκBα

p-p65 and GRP78

p-PERK and p-eIF2α proteins were all significantly increased in the model group relevant to the control group(P<0.01).After the treatment

modeling-induced down-regulation of SOD

CAT and GSH in both EA and MA groups

and T-AOC in the EA group

and up-regulation of levels of MDA

p-IκBα

p-p65

GRP78

p-PERK and p-eIF2α in both groups were reversed(P<0.01

P<0.05).Conclusion Both EA and MA treatment can obviously alleviate colonic inflammation in UC rats via inhibiting oxidative stress and ERS.