Objective

2

To investigate the regulatory effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Tianshu"(ST25) on the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) signaling pathway in obese mice

and to analyze its mechanism in promoting the browning of white adipose tissue for the prevention and treatment of obesity.

Methods

2

Among 38 male C57BL/6J mice of SPF grade

8 mice were randomly selected as the normal group

and the remaining 30 mice were fed with high-fat diet to establish obesity model. Sixteen successfully modeled mice were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group

8 mice in each group. In the EA group

EA was applied at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Tianshu" (ST25)

30 min a time

once daily

5 times a week

for 4 consecutive weeks. Body mass was measured before and after intervention

and Lee's index was calculated. After intervention

fasting blood glucose

insulin

and serum lipid profile indexes (total cholesterol [TC]

triglyceride [TG]

low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]) were detected by ELISA

and the insulin resistance index was calculated;abdominal adipose tissue mass was measured

and the morphology of abdominal adipose tissue was observed by HE staining;the mRNA expression of mTOR

SREBP1

peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α)

uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)

PR domain-containing protein 16 (PRDM16) and cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor-α-like effector A (Cidea) in abdominal adipose tissue was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR

the protein expression of mTOR

SREBP1

PGC-1α

UCP1

PRDM16 and Cidea in abdominal adipose tissue was detected by Western blot.

Results

2

Compared with the normal group

in the model group

the body mass and abdominal adipose tissue mass were increased (

P

<

0.01); the Lee's index

fasting blood glucose

insulin level and insulin resistance index were increased (

P

<

0.01); the serum levels of TC

TG and LDL-C were increased (

P

<

0.01)

and the serum HDL-C level was decreased (

P

<

0.01); the adipocyte diameter in abdominal adipose tiss

ue was enlarged; the mRNA and protein expression of mTOR and SREBP1 was increased (

P

<

0.01)

and the mRNA and protein expression of PGC-1α

UCP1

PRDM16 and Cidea in abdominal adipose tissue was decreased (

P

<

0.01). Compared with the model group

in the EA group

the body mass and abdominal adipose tissue mass were reduced (

P

<

0.01); the Lee's index

fasting blood glucose

insulin level and insulin resistance index were decreased (

P

<

0.01); the serum levels of TC

TG and LDL-C were decreased (

P

<

0.01)

and the serum HDL-C level was increased (

P

<

0.01); the adipocyte diameter in abdominal adipose tissue was reduced; the mRNA and protein expression of mTOR and SREBP1 was decreased (

P

<

0.05)

and the mRNA and protein expression of PGC-1α

UCP1

PRDM16 and Cidea in abdominal adipose tissue was increased (

P

<

0.01).

Conclusion

2

EA at "Zusanli" (ST36) and"Tianshu" (ST25) can alleviate obesity and regulate glycolipid metabolic disorders in mice. The mechanism may be related to inhibiting the mTOR/SREBP1 signaling pathway

up-regulating the expression of PGC-1α

UCP1

PRDM16 and Cidea

and promoting the browning of white adipose tissue.