Electroacupuncture and Its effect on Rat Hepatic Functions

Abstract

The effect of single, acute (7 pulses/sec, 0.75 volt) and chronic (4 pulses/sec., 0.75 volt) electroacupuncture (EA) treatment on alternate days for a period of 21 days on hepatic functions of rats were studied at cellular and subcellular levels. The points used for EA were Shenshu, Dachangshu and Zusanli. After chronic treatment, (a) protein, RNA, phospholipid, and cholesterol contents of whole liver and liver microsomal fraction increased significantly, (b) liver microsomal G-6-Pase activity increased significantly, (c) microsomal lipid peroxidation value decreased, (d) lipase activity increased. After acute treatment, (e) phospholipid, and cholesterol contents of the whole liver and liver microsomal fraction increased significantly, (f) liver microsomal G-6-Pase activity increased significantly, (g) liver microsomal lipid peroxidation value decreased, (h) GPT and lipase activity of liver increased. The parameters unchanged in acute treatment were as follows: (i) protein, RNA content, (j) GOT activity of the liver, (k) SG0T and SGPT activity, (l) hepatic triglyceride. The parameters unchanged in chronic treatment were as follows: (m) GOT and GPT activity of the liver, (n) SG0T and SGPT activity, (o) hepatic triglyceride. No apparent harmful effect of EA on rat hepatic functions is obvious from present study.

Keywords

Electroacupuncture Shenshu Dachangshu Zusanli Glucose-6-phosphatase Lipid Peroxidation Microsome Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase Serum Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Reynolds

E.S.

Moslen

M.T.

“Liver injury following halothane anaesthesia in phenobarbitol pretreated rats,” Biochem. Pharmacol., Vol. 23, pp. 189195, 1974.

Omura

“Normal and abnormal relationship between brain circulation measurements and grasping force of the corresponding hands; their clinical application for diagnosis and evaluation of various modes of treatment,” Acupuncture and Electrotherapeutics Res., Int. J., Vol. 3, pp. 49–96, 1978.

Omura

“Effects of acupuncture on blood pressure, leukocytes, serum lipids and lipoproteins in essential hypertension,” Fed. Proc., Vol. 33(3), Part I, presented and published March 1974.

Omura

“Effects of acupuncture on the cardiovascular system: studies on essential hypertension and blood chemistry,”,” Abstract of the 3rd World Congress of Acupuncture, 208–209, Seoul, Korea, 1973.

Omura

“Patho-physiology of acupuncture treatment: effects of acupuncture on cardiovascular and nervous system,”,” Acupuncture & Electrotherapeutics Res., Int. J., Vol. 1, pp. 51–141, 1975.

Omura

“Patho-physiology of acupuncture effects, ACTH, morphine-like substances, pain, phantom pain and itch, brain microcirculation and memory,” Acupuncture & Electrotherapeutics Res., Int. J., Vol. 2, pp. 1–32, 1976.

Watari

Kurono

Takagi

“Protective effect of acupuncture for liver damage by CCl4,”,” Br. J. Acupuncture, Vol. 2(1), pp. 17–19, 1979.

Schenkman

J.B.

Remmer

Estabrook

R.W.

“Spectral studies of drug interaction with hepatic microsomal cytochrome/rat/,”,” Molec. Pharmac., Vol. 3(2), pp. 113–123, 1967.

Schneider

“Determination of nucleic acids tn tissues by pentose analysis,” in Methods in Enzymology (S.P. CoIowick and N.O. Kaplan, Eds.), Academic Press, NY, Vol. 3, pp. 680–684, 1957.

10.

Gornall

A.G.

Bardawill

C.J.

David

M.M.

“Determination of serum proteins by means of the biuret reactions,”,” J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 177, pp. 751766, 1949.

11.

Floch

Lees

Stoanestanley

G.H.

“A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissue,”,” J.Biol. Chem., Vol. 226, pp. 497–509, 1956.

12.

Fiske

Subbarow

Y.P.

“The colourimetric determination of phosphorus,” J. Biol. Chern. Vol. 66, pp. 375–400, 1925.

13.

Sperry

M.M.

Webb

“A revision of the Schoenheimer-Sperry method for cholesterol determination,”,” J. Biol. Chem. Vol. 187, pp. 97–110, 1950.

14.

Handel

V.E.

Zilversmit

D.B.

Memphis

“Micromethod for the direct determination of serum triglycerides,”,” J. Lab. Clin. Med. Vol. 50, pp. 152–157, 1957.

15.

Reitman

Franknel

“Colorimetric estimation of GOT and GPT with 2:4 DNPH,” Am. J. Clin. Path. Vol. 28, pp. 56–59, 1957.

16.

Harper

A.F.

Methods in Enzymatic Analysis (Bergmeyer, H.U., Ed.), pp. 788792, Academic Press, New York and London, 1963.

17.

Jarrett

H.W.

Penniston

T.J.

“Purification of the Ca2±-stimulated ATPase activator from human erythrocytes,”,” J.Biol. Chem. Vol. 253, pp. 4676–4682, 1978.

18.

Lowry

O.H.

Lopez

J.A.

“The determination of inorganic phosphate in the presence of labile phosphate esters,”,” J.Biol. Chem., Vol. 162, pp. 421428, 1946.

19.

Klassen

C.D.

Plaa

G.L.

“Comparison of the biochemical alterations elicited in livers from rats treated with carbontetrachloride, chloroform, 1 1, 2-trichloroethane and 1,1,1-trichloroethane,” Biochem. Pharmacol., Vol. 18, pp. 2019–2027, 1969.

20.

Seligman

A.M.

Nachlas

M.M.

Methods in Enzymatic Analysis (Bergmeyer, H.U., Ed.) pp. 776–778, Academic Press, New York and London, 1963.

21.

Deenen

L.L.M.V.

“Phospholipids and biomembrane,” Prog. Chem. Fats. Lipids, Vol. 8, pp. 1–6, 1966.

22.

Glaumann

Dallner

1)Lipid composition and turnover of rough and smooth microsomal membranes in rat liver,” J. Lipid. Res., Vol. 9, pp. 720729, 1968.

23.

Recknagel

1)Carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity,” Pharm. Rev. Vol. 19(2), pp. 145–208, 1967.

24.

Sjolund

Tereneus

Eriksson

“Increased cerebrospinal fluid levels of endorphins after electroacupuncture,”,” Acta. Physiol. Scand. Vol. 100(3), pp. 382–384, 1977.

25.

Guillemin

Vargo

Rossier

Minick

Ling

Revier

Vale

Bloom

β-endorphin and adrenocorticotropin are secreted concomitantly by the pituitary qland,” Science Vol. 197, pp. 1367–1369, 1977.

26.

Privett

O.S.

in Autoxidation and Antioxidants (W.O. Lundberg, Ed.), Vol. 2, pp. 1020, John Wiley, New York, 1962.

27.

Omura

“Impressions of the history making acupuncture symposia held in Peking and travel experiences in the People's Republic of China,”,” Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Res., Int. J., Vol. 5, pp. 1-28, 1980. and its Errata and supplemental information” (with detailed oscilloscop- ic analysis of wave forms, output impedances and other electrical parameters of therapeutic electrical stimulator Model G6805 from the People's Republic of China), Acupuncture and Electro-Therapeut. Res., Int. J., 5 (2): 207–209, 1980.