Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on gastrointestinal motility and expression of leptin(LEP) and cholecystokinin(CCK) in the small intestine in obese rats

so as to explore the mechanism of EA underlying improvement of obesity. Methods Male Wistar rats were randomized into 5 groups: normal control

obesity model

abdominal acupoints ["Guanyuan"(CV4)

"Zhongwan"(CV12) and bilateral "Tianshu"(ST25)]

lower-leg acupoints [bilateral "Zusanli"(ST36) and bilateral "Fenglong"(ST40)]

and abdominal+ lower-leg acupoints(n=10 rats in each group). The obesity model was established by feeding the animals with high-fat diet for 8 weeks. EA was applied to the abovementioned acupoints for 20 min every time

3 times a week for 8 weeks. The food intake and body mass were recorded. The white adipose tissue around the testicles and in the abdominal region was weighed. The serum total cholesterol(TC)

triglyceride(TG) and non-esterified fatty acid(NEFA) were detected by using automatic biochemical analyzer. The gastric empty rate and intestinal propulsive rate were calculated. The contents of serum CCK and LEP were detected by using ELISA

and the expression levels of CCK and LEP proteins in the small intestine were detected by using Western blot. Results Following modeling

the food intake

body mass

weight of white adipose around the testicles and abdomen

the gastric empty rate

and serum TC

TG

NEFA and LEP contents as well as intestinal LEP expression were significantly increased(P<0.05

P<0.01)

while the intestinal propulsive rate

serum CCK content and intestinal CCK expression were evidently decreased(P<0.01) in the model group relevant to the normal control group. After EA interventions and compared with the model group

the increased levels of food intake

body mass

white adipose weight

gastric empty rate

TC

TG

and LEP in serum and small intestine

and the decreased levels of intestinal propulsive rate

CCK in the serum and intestine were reversed in the abdominal acupoints

lower-leg acupoints and abdominal+lower-leg acupoints groups(P<0.05

P<0.01). No significant differences were found in the effects of the three EA groups in down-regulating food intake

body mass

white adipose weight

gastric empty rate

serum TC

TG and LEP levels(except NEFA) and in up-regulating intestinal propulsive rate and CCK level(P>0.05).Conclusion EA stimulation of the abdominal and lower-leg acupoints or both can reduce body weight on obesity rats

which is associated with its functions in regulating intestinal motility

food intake

and secretion of LEP and CCK.