A Study on Serum Glucose Levels and the Pancreatic Beta-cell Protective Effect of Acupuncture on Streptozotocin-treated Rats by Subcutaneous Implantation of Osmotic Pump

Osmotic Pump모델 당뇨병 실험동물에서 침자극이 혈당조절 및 베타세포 보호작용에 미치는 영향

Objective: To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on streptozotocin(STZ)-treated rats by subcutaneous implantation of osmotic pump. Methods: STZ was administered to rats at a low dose with osmotic pump to induce beta cell death and diabetes (STZ osmotic pump model), The experimental animals were divided into 4 groups: 1. The control group which was not treated in the STZ osmotic pump model 2. The sham group which was acupunctured at an arbitrary point in the STZ osmotic pump model 3. The sample A group which was acupunctured at the Chung-wan($CV_{12}$) in the STZ osmotic pump model 4. The sample B group which was acupunctured at the Chok-samni($ST_{36}$) in the STZ osmotic pump model. The effect of acupuncture in the STZ osmotic pump model was observed by measuring the serum glucose level and immunostaining of pancreatic tissue of the rats. Results : STZ injection by subcutaneous implantation of osmotic pump caused hyperglycemia by destroying the pancreatic beta cell selectively. Acupuncture at the Chung-wan acupuncture point($CV_{12}$) and Jhok-samni acupuncture point ($ST_{36}$) in the STZ osmotic pump model separately resulted in a decrease of the serum glucose level. In addition, the cyto-protective effect of the pancreatic beta-cell was detected in the STZ osmotic pump model by acupuncture. And there were few differences between the effects of acupuncture at the CV12 and $ST_{36}$. Conclusion : Acupuncture at the CV12 and ST36 had beneficial effects on Type II diabetes mellitus, and action mechanism of the effect was thought to be concerned with secretion of endogenous beta-endorphin.