Repeated Application of Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Hyperglycemia in Obese Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats

Repeated application of electroacupuncture (EA) was investigated for blood glucose (BG)-lowering effect in fasted male obese Zucker fatty diabetic (ZDF) rats aged 10?17 weeks. Anesthesia with 1% halothane in 75% nitrous oxide-25% oxygen provided satisfactory chemical restraint to enable repeat application of EA. Animals in Groups 1, 2 and 3 were anesthetized with halothane?nitrous oxide?oxygen mixture on Days 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12 of the study. Those in Group 1 (n = 4) did not receive EA (controls). Those in Group 2 (n = 4) were treated with EA using Zhongwan and Guanyuan acupoints, while those in Group 3 (n = 4) received EA using both Zusanli acupoints. After inserting the rat's nose into the nose cone of the anesthetic apparatus, BG was measured at 10 and 20 minutes and EA was applied for 30 minutes, when BG was again measured. Using ANOVA and Tukey test, means for baseline BG at 20 minutes and the change over 30 minutes for Groups 2 and 3 were compared with those for Group 1. Group 2 had significantly lower baseline BG on Days 5, 8 and 12; the changes in BG on Days 3 and 5 were significantly less than in Group 1 (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes for Group 3 compared to Group 1 (p > 0.05). Analyzing data over Weeks 1 and 2 showed that the mean baseline BG for Group 2 was significantly lower than that for Group 1 over both weeks and the change in BG in Week 1 was also significantly lower than for Group 1 (p < 0.05). For Group 3, a significant decrease in mean baseline BG compared to Group 1 occurred in Week 1 (p < 0.05). Thus, repeated EA application using Zhongwan and Guanyuan acupoints was effective in lowering baseline BG and modulating the change in BG in anesthetized animals.