Acupuncture improved lipid metabolism by regulating intestinal absorption in mice

Figure 1 After needling treatment, the obesity caused by high fat diet feeding was obviously improved in acupoints group mice. A: General view of the mice; B: Body weight change of the mice; C: Appearance of abdominal fat; D: Abdominal fat weight and the ratio of abdominal fat weight to body weight (n = 10). The results are presented as the mean ± SD (n = 10). ^aP < 0.01, ^bP < 0.005. NG: Non-acupoints group; AG: Acupoints group; MCD: Methionine- and choline-deficient; HF: High fat.

Figure 2 After needling treatment, the acupoints group mouse small intestine changed in structure, while the levels of lipid transport proteins in the acupoints group mouse small intestine tissue were significantly decreased. A: The appearance of small intestine (left) and the length of the small intestine (right); B: Hematoxylin and eosin staining of a small intestine section (left) and the length of the small intestinal villus (right upper) and the depth of the small intestinal gland (right bottom); C: Western blotting of lipid transport proteins in the small intestine. The results are presented as the mean ± SD (n = 10). ^aP < 0.01, ^bP < 0.005. NG: Non-acupoints group; AG: Acupoints group.

Figure 3 After needling treatment, large amounts of lipids accumulated in the small intestinal epithelium of acupoints group mice. This did not occur in the serum. A: Lipid levels in the small intestine; B: Lipid levels in the serum. The results are presented as the mean ± SD (n = 10). ^aP < 0.01, ^bP < 0.005. NG: Non-acupoints group; AG: Acupoints group; TG: Triacylglycerol; T-Cho: Total cholesterol; NEFA: Nonesterified fatty acid.

Figure 4 Acupuncture treatment did not seem to regulate the adipose tissue itself. A: Hematoxylin and eosin staining of abdominal adipose tissue (left) and the diameter of adipocytes (right); B: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction of abdominal adipose tissue. The results are presented as the mean ± SD (n = 10). NG: Non-acupoints group; AG: Acupoints group.

Figure 5 Schematic illustration of the critical roles of acupuncture in intestinal lipid absorption under non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. MCD: Methionine- and choline-deficient; HF: High fat.