Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) stimulation of "Zusanli"(ST 36)

etc.on se-rum sugar and insulin contents

serum and liver interleukin-18(IL-18) levels in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) rats

so as to study its mechanism underlying improvement of NAFLD.Methods Forty-four SD rats were randomized into normal control

model

EA and non-acupoint groups

with 11 rats in each group.EA(2 Hz

1.5 V) was applied to bilateral "Zusanli"(ST 36)

"Fenglong"(ST 40)

"Sanyinjiao"(ST 6) and "Taichong"(LR 3) and non-acupoint(proximal 1/3 of the tail) for 15 min

once daily for 4 weeks.IL-18 contents of serum and liver tissue were assayed by using double antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)

fasting blood sugar(FBS) content was measured by enzymatic colorimetric method

and fasting insulin(FINS) level assayed by radioimmunoassay.H.E.staining of the liver tissue sections was used to display pathological changes.Results Compared with the normal control group

serum FBS and FINS contents

serum and hepatic IL-18 levels and fasting insulin resistance index(FIRI) in the model group were significantly increased(P<0.01).While compared with the model group

the levels of serum FBS

FINS

FIRI and IL-18 as well as hepatic IL-18 content in the EA group were markedly decreased(P<0.05).The fatty degeneration in hepatic tissue was relieved.No significant changes of the five indexes mentioned above were found in the non-acupoint group(P>0.05).H.E.staining of the liver tissue showed that in the model group

the hypatocyte was clearly increased in the size

with different degrees of fatty degeneration or necrosis

and inflammatory cell infiltration.These changes were relatively milder in the EA group rather than in the non-acupoint group.Conclusion EA stimulation of "Zusanli"(ST 36)

"Fenglong"(ST 40)

etc.can suppress NAFLD induced upregulation of blood sugar

serum insulin

insulin resistance index and serum and hepatic IL-18 levels in fatty liver rats

which may contribute to its effect in relieving polysaccharide attack induced liver damage.