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Effects of 10.6-μm laser moxibustion and electroacupuncture at ST36 in a 5-Fu-induced diarrhea rat model

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 10.6-μm laser moxibustion and electroacupuncture in 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu)-induced diarrhea model rats.

Methods

Forty-eight Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a normal group, model group, 10.6-μm laser moxibustion (LM) group, and electroacupuncture (EA) group. Diarrhea was induced by 5-Fu (50 mg/kg) injection in 36 rats; the LM and EA groups received treatment at acupoint ST36 (Zusanli) on hind limbs once a day for 6 days.

Results

5-Fu injection caused body weight decline and diarrhea. From the 5th to 7th day, the LM group showed higher body weights than the model group (P < 0.05). On the 6th day, diarrhea score of the LM group was better than that of the EA group (P < 0.05). Both scores of the LM group and EA group were better than that of model group (P < 0.05). The LM group and EA group both had better intestine pathological scores and lower endotoxin (ET) and diamine oxide (DAO) activity than the model group (P < 0.01). The LM group got better pathological scores than the EA group (P < 0.01). Ultramicroscopic structures of the model group showed severe damage while the LM group and EA group remained good in their small intestines. The model group had obviously decreased occludin protein in intestine tissues than the control group (P < 0.01), while occludin expressions in the LM group and EA group were both obviously increased compared with the model group (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

LM and EA treatment on ST36 could alleviate damage to intestinal barrier function and alleviate diarrhea caused by 5-Fu.

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Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81874506).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Huaijin Cheng and Ling Zhao contributed equally to this study and should be considered as co-first authors

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China

    Huaijin Cheng, Ling Zhao, Ziyong Ju, Fan Wang, Meng Qin, Huijuan Mao & Xueyong Shen

  2. Shanghai Research Center of Acupuncture & Meridian, 421 Niudun Road, Shanghai, 201203, China

    Xueyong Shen

Authors
  1. Huaijin Cheng
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  2. Ling Zhao
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  3. Ziyong Ju
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Contributions

Prof. Xueyong Shen had full access to all study data and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Huaijin Cheng and Ling Zhao contributed equally to this manuscript.

Concept and design: X. Shen.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: L. Zhao, H. Cheng, Z. Ju, F. Wang, M. Qin, and H. Mao.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: all authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xueyong Shen.

Ethics declarations

The Committee on the Ethics of Animal Experiments of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine approved all animal studies and procedures (approval ID: 201610009), and all studies were conducted in accordance with the National Institutes for Health (NIH) “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” to reduce pain and to avoid harm.

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Cheng, H., Zhao, L., Ju, Z. et al. Effects of 10.6-μm laser moxibustion and electroacupuncture at ST36 in a 5-Fu-induced diarrhea rat model. Support Care Cancer 29, 2561–2569 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05788-0

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