Electroacupuncture and Moxibustion Modulate the BDNF and TrkB Expression in the Colon and Dorsal Root Ganglia of IBS Rats with Visceral Hypersensitivity

Duiyin Jin; Yanan Liu; Siyi Lv; Qin Qi; Mei Li; Yuanyuan Wang; Xiaomei Wang; Huangan Wu

doi:10.1155/2021/8137244

Electroacupuncture and Moxibustion Modulate the BDNF and TrkB Expression in the Colon and Dorsal Root Ganglia of IBS Rats with Visceral Hypersensitivity

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Sep 28:2021:8137244. doi: 10.1155/2021/8137244. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Duiyin Jin¹, Yanan Liu^{2

3}, Siyi Lv¹, Qin Qi¹, Mei Li¹, Yuanyuan Wang¹, Xiaomei Wang^{2

3}, Huangan Wu^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Yueyang Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China.
² Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture and moxibustion on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) protein and mRNA expressions in the colon and dorsal root ganglia of IBS rats with visceral hypersensitivity and to explore their underlying therapeutic mechanisms.

Method: Forty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal, model, model + mild moxibustion (MM), model + electroacupuncture (EA), and model + pinaverium bromide (PB) groups, with eight rats in each group. Chronic visceral hypersensitive IBS rat models were established by colorectal distension (CRD) with mustard oil clyster. Rats in the MM and EA groups, respectively, received moxibustion and electroacupuncture treatments on the Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37) acupoints once daily for 7 days, and rats in the PB group received pinaverium bromide by oral gavage once daily for 7 consecutive days. After treatment, rats underwent abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scoring under CRD and colon histopathological examination. Immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to study the protein and mRNA expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the rat colon and dorsal root ganglia.

Results: Compared with the normal group, AWR scores and body weight were clearly increased in the model group rats (both P < 0.01). The body weights were significantly elevated (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), but the AWR scores were reduced (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), after electroacupuncture and mild moxibustion treatment. Compared with levels in normal rats, BDNF and TrkB protein and mRNA expressions were significantly elevated in the IBS model rats (P < 0.01) but were downregulated after mild moxibustion, electroacupuncture, and Western medicine treatment (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Electroacupuncture and moxibustion improved visceral hypersensitivity of IBS rats possibly by reducing BDNF and TrkB protein and mRNA expressions in the colon and dorsal root ganglia.