Objective To observe the effect of different intensities of electroacupuncture(EA) on adipose tissue inflammatory cytokines in rats with simple obesity so as to investigate its mechanism underlying body weight reduction.Methods Forty SD male rats were randomly divided into normal

model

strong EA and weak EA groups(n=10/group).Obesity model was established by feeding the rats with high fat diet.EA(20Hz

strong EA: 5V

weak EA: 2.5V) was applied to "Zusanli"(ST36) and "Sanyinjiao"(SP6) for 15min

once everyday and for 14 days.Body weight and Lee's index(=body weight 1/3×103 /body length) were detected.The fasting blood glucose was detected by hexokinase method

serum triglyceride(TG) was detected by glycerol-phosphoric acid oxidase peroxydase(GPO-POD)method

total cholesterol(TC) was detected by cholesterol oxidase method

high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) were measured by using one-step method

respectively.The expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) mRNA and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α mRNA in the epididymis adipose tissue was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results In comparison with the normal group

the body weight

Lee's index

blood lipid(TG

TC

LDL-C)

fasting blood glucose levels

and expression of MCP-1 mRNA and TNF-α mRNA were significantly higher in the model group(P<0.01)

and HDL-C was significantly lower(P<0.01).After EA

compared with the model group

the body weight

Lee's index

TG

TC

LDL-C

fasting blood glucose levels

and expression of MCP-1mRNA and TNF-α mRNA in both strong and weak EA groups were significantly decreased(P<0.01

P<0.05)

and HDL-C was significantly increased(P<0.01

P<0.05).The effects of strong EA group were obviously superior to those of weak EA group(P<0.05

P<0.01).No statistical significance was observed between the two EA groups in fasting blood glucose levels(P>0.05).Conclusion EA of "Zusanli"(ST36) and "Sanyinjiao"(SP6) has a beneficial weight-reduction effect on rats with simple obesity

and moreover

the effect of strong EA stimulation is evidently superior to weak EA stimulation.