Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)stimulation of"Fenglong"(ST 40)on blood lipid contents and inflammatory factor levels in hyperlipemia rats so as to elucidate its mechanism underlying improvement of hyperlipemia.Methods Fifty male SD rats were randomized into 5groups:normal

model

diet-control

EA intervention(EA)

diet-control+ EA groups

with 10rats in each group.Hyperlipemia model was established by feeding the animals with high-fat diet for 30days.After modeling

rats in the diet-control group were fed with routine fodder.EA was applied to bilateral"Fenglong"(ST 40)for 30min

once daily for 30days.Following intraperitoneal injection of 1640culture fluid

the peritoneal fluid was collected and centrifuged for extracting macrophages.Flow cytometry(FCM)was employed to determine the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)after adding fluoresce-labeled antibodies.Results The contents of serum TC and LDL-C were remarkably higher and HDL-C level was significantly lower in the model group than in the normal group(P<0.01).After EA intervention

serum TC and LDL-C showed an apparent decrease(P<0.01).Compared with the normal group

percentages of CD11b

TNF-αand IL-6were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01)

while in comparison with the model group

percentages of CD11bin both EA and diet-control+EA groups

TNF-αand IL-6percentages of macrophages in the diet-control

EA and diet-control+EA groups were notably decreased(P<0.05

P<0.01).The effects of the dietcontrol+EA group were considerably superior to those of the diet-control group in lowering CD 11b

TNF-αand IL-6percentages(P<0.05

P<0.01).No significant differences were found between the diet-control and EA groups in the aforementioned indexes(P>0.05).CD11blevel indicates changes of macrophage level due to its specific marker character.Conclusion EA stimulation of"Fenglong"(ST 40)is effective in lowering serum TC

LDL-C

and macrophage TNF-αand IL-6levels in hyperlipemia rats.