Electroacupuncture alleviates cisplatin-induced nausea in rats - PubMed (original) (raw)

Electroacupuncture alleviates cisplatin-induced nausea in rats

Yingxue Cui et al. Acupunct Med. 2016 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for the treatment of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanisms of action underlying the anti-emetic effect of electroacupuncture (EA).

Design: Forty-eight rats received saline (n=12) or 6 mg/kg cisplatin (n=36) to establish a chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting model. EA was performed at CV12 (n=12), bilateral PC6 (n=12), or sham points (n=12) 3 days before and 1-2 days after cisplatin administration (4-5 times in total), at 0.5-1 mA intensity and 2/15 Hz frequency for 10 min. Kaolin intake, food intake and bodyweight change were evaluated as markers of nausea and vomiting severity. Concentrations of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in the duodenum and c-Fos expression in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) were measured using high performance liquid chromatography and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

Results: Cisplatin administration led to increased kaolin intake and reduced food intake and bodyweight over the following 2 days. EA at CV12 significantly reversed the cisplatin-induced change in kaolin intake (on days 1 and 2) and food intake and bodyweight (on day 1). EA at CV12 also attenuated the cisplatin-induced increase in 5-HT in the duodenum and suppressed c-Fos expression in the NTS. EA at PC6 influenced kaolin intake (on day 1 only) and c-Fos expression, but had no statistically significant effect on food intake, bodyweight or 5-HT expression.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated beneficial effects of EA on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in a rat model. The anti-emetic effect of EA may be mediated through inhibition of 5-HT secretion in the duodenum and activity of the NTS.

Keywords: GASTROENTEROLOGY); ONCOLOGY.

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Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Timeline of experiment (A) and location of classical and sham acupuncture points (B). EA, electroacupuncture.

Figure 2

Figure 2

Changes in kaolin intake (A), normal food intake (B), and bodyweight (C) over a 48 h time period following intraperitoneal injection of saline (n=12) or 6 mg/kg cisplatin (n=36) in male Wistar rats receiving a total of 4–5 electroacupuncture (EA) treatments at sham points (saline+sham and cisplatin+sham groups, n=12 each), CV12 (cisplatin+CV12 group, n=12) or PC6 (cisplatin+PC6 group, n=12). Data are mean±SEM. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, cisplatin+sham versus saline+sham. #p<0.05, ##p<0.01, cisplatin+CV12/PC6 versus cisplatin+sham.

Figure 3

Figure 3

Concentrations of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), measured by high performance liquid chromatography, in the duodenum 48 h following intraperitoneal injection of saline (n=6) or 6 mg/kg cisplatin (n=18) in male Wistar rats receiving five electroacupuncture (EA) treatments at sham points (saline+sham and cisplatin+sham groups, n=6 each), CV12 (cisplatin+CV12 group, n=6) or PC6 (cisplatin+PC6 group, n=6). Data are mean±SEM. **p<0.01, cisplatin+sham versus saline+sham. ##p<0.01, cisplatin+CV12/PC6 versus cisplatin+sham.

Figure 4

Figure 4

Representative immunohistochemistry images taken at ×100 magnification (A) and c-Fos positive cell counts (C) in the brainstem nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) located according to a rat brain atlas (B). 24 h following intraperitoneal injection of saline (n=6) or 6 mg/kg cisplatin (n=18) in male Wistar rats receiving four electroacupuncture (EA) treatments at sham points (saline+sham and cisplatin+sham groups, n=6 each), CV12 (cisplatin+CV12 group, n=6) or PC6 (cisplatin+PC6 group, n=6). Data are mean±SEM. **p<0.01, cisplatin+sham versus saline+sham. ##p<0.01, cisplatin+CV12/PC6 versus cisplatin+sham. 4V, fourth ventricle.

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