Electroacupuncture at Tianshu (ST25) and Zusanli (ST36) alleviates stress-induced irritable bowel syndrome in mice by modulating gut microbiota and corticotropin-releasing factor

Sun Mengzhu; Zhang Yujie; Song Yafang; Guo Jing; Zhao Tingting; Wang Yuhang; Pei Lixia; Sun Jianhua

doi:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20220719.001

Electroacupuncture at Tianshu (ST25) and Zusanli (ST36) alleviates stress-induced irritable bowel syndrome in mice by modulating gut microbiota and corticotropin-releasing factor

J Tradit Chin Med. 2022 Oct;42(5):732-740. doi: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20220719.001.

Authors

Sun Mengzhu¹, Zhang Yujie¹, Song Yafang¹, Guo Jing¹, Zhao Tingting¹, Wang Yuhang¹, Pei Lixia², Sun Jianhua²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Meidicne, Nanjing 210023, China.
² Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) at bilateral Tianshu (ST25) and Zusanli (ST36) acupoints could alleviate stress-induced irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and evaluate its effect on gut microbiota and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF).

Methods: Thirty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the normal, water avoidance stress (WAS), and WAS+EA groups (10 mice per group). An experimental model of IBS was established by exposing the animals to WAS. The mice were treated with EA at the bilateral Tianshu (ST25) and Zusanli (ST36) acupoints. The abdominal withdrawal reflex test was conducted to evaluate visceral sensitivity in IBS. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing and analysis. The expression of CRF was determined using immune-ofluorescence and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: EA alleviated visceral hypersensitivity in a mouse model of WAS-induced IBS. It modulated the dysbiosis of gut microbiota induced by WAS. Moreover, it suppressed the WAS-induced overexpression of CRF in colon tissues.

Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that EA alleviated WAS-induced IBS mechanisms possibly involving the modulation of the dysbiosis of gut microbiota and suppression of CRF expression.

Keywords: corticotropin-releasing hormone; electroacupuncture; gastrointestinal microbiome; irritable bowel syndrome.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acupuncture Points
Animals
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / genetics
Dysbiosis
Electroacupuncture*
Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
Irritable Bowel Syndrome* / genetics
Irritable Bowel Syndrome* / therapy
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Substances

RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone