Neurophysiological mechanisms of electroacupuncture in regulating pancreatic function and adipose tissue expansion

Figure 1 Electroacupuncture modulates the trophic influence of peripancreatic adipose tissue on the pancreatic intrinsic nervous system. A: Histological alterations in pancreatic tissue and ectopic fat deposition in the pancreas across experimental groups (200 × magnification). Blue arrows indicate vacuolar-like changes; B: Comparative analysis of peripancreatic adipose tissue (PAT) blood perfusion between the control and model groups; C: Immunohistochemical staining for NGF in PAT under high magnification for the different groups (400 × magnification). Scale bar represents 50 μm; D: Illustrative immunofluorescence images showing co-expression of NGF and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in all groups (200 × magnification). Red fluorescence denotes NGF, while green fluorescence indicates TH. A uniform scale bar is applied to all groups; D: Pearson correlation analysis between NGF and TH expression (n = 5); E: Illustrative immunofluorescence images showing co-expression of NGF and TH in all groups (200 × magnification); F and G: Representative Western blot bands for NGF; F and H: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in PAT. Vinculin served as a loading control; I-L: PAT blood flow changes during electroacupuncture stimulation at acupoints ST25, LI11, and ST37 in normal rats, respectively. ^aP < 0.05 compared to the normal control group; ^bP < 0.05 compared to the model or alternative treatment group. TH: Tyrosine hydroxylase; ST25: Tianshu acupoint; LI11: Quchi acupoint; ST37: Shangjuxu acupoint.