Objective To observe the effect of point-moxibustion and electroacupuncture(EA)on gastrointestinal motility

and expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)mRNA and angiotensin 2(ATⅡ)mRNA in gastric antrum in diabetic gastroparesis(DGP)rats

so as to reveal the different effect between point-moxibustion and EA

and explore the mechanism underlying improvement of DGP.Methods Forty SD rats were randomly divided into normal

model

point-moxibustion and EA groups

10 rats in each group.The DGP model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ

2%

55mmol/kg)and fed with high-sugar and high-fat fodder."Zusanli"(ST 36)

"Sanyinjiao"(SP 6)and"Liangmen"(ST 21)were chosen to be stimulated with moxibustion at 0

10 and 20min in the point-moxibustion group or with EA for 20 min in the EA group.The treatment was conducted once daily for 15 days.After treatment

blood glucose

gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsive rate were measured.The plasma endothelin 1(ET-1)content was detected by ELISA.The mRNA expression of eNOS and AT Ⅱin gastric antrum were detected by Real-time PCR.Results Compared with the normal group

the blood glucose in the model group was significantly higher(P<0.01).Compared with the model group

the blood glucose decreased significantly in the point-moxibustion group and EA group(P<0.05).In comparison with the normal group

gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsive rate were decreased

the content of plasma ET-1was increased

the expression of eNOS mRNA in gastric antrum was significantly reduced and the expression of ATⅡ mRNA was significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01).In comparison with the model group

gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsive rate were increased

the content of plasma ET-1was decreased

the expression of eNOS mRNA in gastric antrum was higher and the expression of AT Ⅱ mRNA was significantly lower in both point-moxibustion group and EA group(P<0.05)

and there were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in above mentioned indexes(P>0.05).Conclusion Both point-moxibustion and EA can effectively promote gastrointestinal motility in DGP rats and improve the symptoms of delayed gastric emptying.The two therapies are effective

and their mechanism may be related to the increase of eNOS mRNA expression and the decrease of ATⅡmRNA expression in gastric antrum.