ELECTROACUPUNCTURING AT ZUSANLI POINT (ST36) ATTENUATES PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE RELEASE AND ORGAN DYSFUNCTION BY ACTIVATING CHOLINERGIC ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PATHWAY IN RAT WITH ENDOTOXIN CHALLENGE

Background: It is considered that the pathogenesis is closely related to an excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines caused by bacterial toxins and an imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators
Materials and Methods: This work investigates the effect of electro-acupuncturing (EA), at Zusanli point (ST36) on plasma cytokine release and organ dysfunction and their mechanism in conscious rats with endotoxin challenge.
Results: EA at Zusanli points obviously lowered the elevated levels of plasma TNF-α, and attenuated changes in parameters relevant to various organ functions at 2 h after LPS challenge. ɑ-BGT injection or bilateral cervical vagotomy could weaken or eliminate the effects of EA, and further aggravated the elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and organ dysfunction.
Conclusion: The results suggested that EA at Zusanli points significantly reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and organ dysfunction after LPS challenge by activating cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

Keywords
Electro-acupuncture; Lipopolysaccharide; Cytokine; Cholinergic; anti-inflammatory pathway