Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture（EA） on protein expressions of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3（SOCS3） and insulin receptor substrate-1（IRS-1） in hypothalamus and morphology of pancreas islet in Zucker diabetic fatty（ZDF） rats

and to explore its possible mechanism on improving plasma glucose and insulin resistance of type 2diabetes mellitus（T2DM）.Methods Twelve SPF male ZDF rats were selected and fed with high-fat diet for 4 weeks to establish the T2DM model

after modeling

the rats were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group

6 rats in each one.Besides

6 SPF male Zucker lean rats were selected as a blank group.In the EA group

EA was applied at "Pishu"（BL 20）

"Weiwanxiashu"（EX-B 3）

"Zusanli"（ST 36） and "Sanyinjiao"（SP 6）

with continuous wave

15 Hz in frequency

2 mA in intensity

once a day

20 min each time

6 times a week for 4 weeks.The fasting plasma glucose（FPG） was measured before and after intervention.The serum level of fasting insulin（FINS） was measured by radioimmunoassay

and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index（HOMA-IR） was calculated;the morphological change of pancreas islets was observed by HE staining;the protein expressions of SOCS3 and IRS-1 in hypothalamus were detected by Western blot.Results Before intervention

compared with the blank group

FPG in the model group and the EA group was increased（P<0.01）.After intervention

compared with the blank group

FPG

serum level of FINS and HOMA-IR were increased（P<0.01）

the protein expression of SOCS3 was increased while IRS-1 was decreased in the hypothalamus in the model group（P<0.01）.Compared with the model group

FPG

serum level of FINS and HOMA-IR were decreased（P<0.01）

the protein expression of SOCS3 was decreased while IRS-1 was increased in the hypothalamus in the EA group（P<0.01）.In the model group

the shape of pancreas islets was irregular

the area of pancreas islets and the number of islet β cell nuclei were decreased

the nuclei of islet β cell was compensatory enlargement.In the EA group

the shape and the area of pancreas islets and the number of islet β cell nuclei were improved

the compensatory increase of islet β cell nuclei was alleviated compared with the model group.Conclusion Electroacupuncture can reduce the fasting plasma glucose

improve the morphology of pancreas islets

and alleviate the insulin resistance in ZDF rats.The mechanism may relate to the down-regulation of SOCS3 and up-regulation of IRS-1 in the hypothalamus

and improving the function of hypothalamus in regulating peripheral glucose metabolism.