Electroacupuncture with different current intensities can improve gastrointestinal motility in diabetic gastroparesis via vagal and sympathetic pathways

Figure 1 Experimental grouping and intervention. STZ: Streptozotocin; EA: Electroacupuncture; DGP: Diabetic gastroparesis.

Figure 2 Electroacupuncture promotes gastric emptying in rats with diabetic gastroparesis. A: Body weight (n = 6); B: Blood glucose (n = 6); C: Gastric myoelectric activity; D: The number of slow wave discharges in the gastric antrum of rats within 5 minutes (n = 6); E: Gastric emptying rate (n = 6); F: Small intestine propulsion rate (n = 6). ^aP < 0.05. STZ: Streptozotocin; EA: Electroacupuncture; DGP: Diabetic gastroparesis.

Figure 3 Electroacupuncture improved gastric smooth muscle dysfunction in rats with diabetic gastroparesis. A: The results of hematoxylin-eosin staining (scale bar = 100 μm, n = 6); B-D: Western blotting and quantification of Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase 1 and Rho guanine nucleotide-binding protein A levels in gastric tissue; E and F: The mRNA levels of Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase 1 and Rho guanine nucleotide-binding protein A. ^aP < 0.05. DGP: Diabetic gastroparesis; EA: Electroacupuncture; ROCK: Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase; RhoA: Rho guanine nucleotide-binding protein A.

Figure 4 Representative immunofluorescence images of C-kit staining (scale bar = 50 μm, n = 6). DGP: Diabetic gastroparesis; EA: Electroacupuncture.

Figure 5 Electroacupuncture at different current strengths promoted gastric emptying to varying degrees and improved gastrointestinal function. A: Body weight (n = 6); B: Blood glucose (n = 6); C: Electromyographic activity of the rat stomach; D: The number of slow wave discharges in the antrum of the rat stomach within 5 minutes (n = 6); E: Gastric emptying rate (n = 6); F: Small intestine propulsion rate (n = 6). ^aP < 0.05. STZ: Streptozotocin; EA: Electroacupuncture; DGP: Diabetic gastroparesis.

Figure 6 Electroacupuncture with different current intensities improved gastrointestinal function through neuromodulation. A-C: Western blotting and quantification of choline acetyltransferase and tyrosine hydroxylase protein levels in the gastric tissue; D and E: The serum levels of acetylcholine and norepinephrine. ^aP < 0.05. ChAT: Choline acetyltransferase; TH: Tyrosine hydroxylase; EA: Electroacupuncture; DGP: Diabetic gastroparesis; Ach: Acetylcholine; NE: Norepinephrine.

Figure 7 Electroacupuncture with different current intensities improves gastric smooth muscle dysfunction in rats with diabetic gastroparesis. A: Hematoxylin-eosin staining (scale bar = 100 μm, n = 6); B-D: Western blotting and quantification of Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase 1 and Rho guanine nucleotide-binding protein A levels in gastric tissue; E and F: The mRNA levels of Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase 1 and Rho guanine nucleotide-binding protein A. ^aP < 0.05. DGP: Diabetic gastroparesis; EA: Electroacupuncture; ROCK: Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase; RhoA: Rho guanine nucleotide-binding protein A.

Figure 8 Representative immunofluorescence images of C-kit staining in different groups (scale bar = 50 μm, n = 6). DGP: Diabetic gastroparesis; EA: Electroacupuncture.