Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) and pre-EA at“Taiyuan”(LU9) on histopathological changes

pulmonary ventilation function

pneodynamics

and contents of TNF-α

IL-1β and IL-10 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in rats with acute lung injury(ALI)

in order to explore their differences of therapeutic effects. Methods A total of 92 male SD rats were randomly divided into control

model

routine EA and pre-EA groups

with 23 rats in each group. The ALI rat model was established by instillation of 0.5% lipopolysaccharide solution(5 mg/kg) intratracheally. EA(3 mA

10 Hz) was applied to bilateral LU9 for 20 min

once 5 h after modeling for rats of the routine EA group

and once on the 1

(st)

3(st)

3

(rd)

and 5(rd) and 5

(th)

day respectively before modeling for rats of the pre-EA group. The pulmonary ventilation functions

including dynamic lung compliance(Cdyn)

tidal volume(TV)

minute ventilation volume(MV)

lung resistance

peak inspiratory flow(PIF)

peak expiratory flow(PEF)

were measured by using a small animal lung function detection system. The electromyogram(EMG) of the diaphragm muscle was recorded for observing changes of the total integral electromyogram(iEMG)

single iEMG and respiration rate. Pathological changes of the lung tissue were scored after H.E. staining. The contents of TNF-α

IL-1β and IL-10 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results Compared with the control group

the Cdyn

TV

MV and PIF consi-derably decreased(P

<

0.000 1)

and the lung resistance

total iEMG of diaphragm muscle

lung injury score

and contents of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly increased(P

<

0.05

P

<

0.001

P

<

0.01) in the model group. In comparison with the model group

the TV

MV and PIF in both routine EA and pre-EA groups

and the Cdyn

total iEMG and single iEMG in the routine EA group

as well as the IL-10 content in the pre-EA group were significantly increased(P

<

0.01

P

<

0.001

P

<

0.05)

whereas the lung injury score

and contents of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly decreased in the pre-EA group(P

<

0.05). Conclusion Both pre-EA and routine EA at LU9 can improve the lung function of ALI model rats. Pre-electroacupuncture is related to local immunoregulation

while electroacupuncture is mainly related to the improvement of pulmonary ventilation function and respiratory motility.