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

"Liangmen"(ST 21)and"Sanyinjiao"(SP 6)on gastrointestinal motility and expression of ghrelin and growth hormone secretagogue receptor(GHSR)mRNA in diabetic gastroparesis(diabetic gastroparesis

DGP)rats

so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of diabetic gastroparesis.Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly and equally divided into normal control

model

EA acupoint

EA non-acupoint

medication(metoclopramide)groups(n=12rat/group).The DGP model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ

55mg/kg

2%)and raised by high-sugar and high-fat fodder irregularly for 8weeks.EA was applied to"Zusanli"(ST 36)

"Liangmen"(ST 21)and"Sanyinjiao"(SP 6)

and non-acupoints(about 5mm lateral to the 3acupoints

respectively).Those rats of the medication group were given with metoclopramide(1mL/100g).The blood sugar level was measured by glucometer

and the urine sugar level measured by Tes-Tape [urine glucose test paper].The intestinal propulsion rate(IPR)was identified as ratio of the phenolsulfonphthalein promoting distance and the total length of the small intestine

and the gastric emptying rate(GER)was assessed by gavage of a liquid test meal(1.5mL)containing a nonabsorbable marker(0.5mg/mL of phenol red in 5% glucose solution)and identification after being sacrificed 72 hafter modeling.The expression levels of ghrelin mRNA and GHSR mRNA of gastric antrum tissue were examined by Quantitative real-time PCR.Results In comparison with the normal control group

the blood sugar and urine sugar levels of the model group was significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01)

while the GER and IPR and the expression level of ghrelin mRNA and GHSR mRNA in the gastric antrum were significantly decreased in the model group(P<0.01

P<0.05).Following EA stimulation of acupoint

the blood sugar and urine sugar levels were obviously down-regulated(P<0.05)

both GER and IPR

and ghrelin mRNA and GHSR mRNA expression levels in the EA-acupoint group were significantly up-regulated(P<0.05

P<0.01).No significant changes were found in both blood sugar and urine sugar levels

in both GER and IPR

and ghrelin mRNA and GHSR mRNA expression levels of both EA non-acupoint and medication groups after the intervention(P>0.05).The GER and IPR were significantly higher in the EA acupoint group than in the EA non-acupoint group(P<0.05

P<0.01).Conclusion EA stimulation of ST 36

ST 21 and SP 6can promote the gastrointestinal motility of DGP rats

which may be closely associated with its effects in up-regulating the expression level of ghrelin mRNA and GHSR mRNA in gastric antrum.