July - September 2020, Volume 16, Issue 3

Xu F, Chen R, Ma C, Tang L, Wan W, You F, Chen L, Li J, Chen Z, Liang F

Electroacupuncture Improves Insulin Sensitivity in High-Fat Diet-Induced Insulin Resistant Rats by Activating SIRT1 and GLUT4 in Quadriceps Femoris

Acta Endo (Buc) 2020, 16 (3): 280-287
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2020.280

Objectives. To assess the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the Zusanli (ST36), Guanyuan (CV4), Zhongwan (CV12), and Fenglong (ST40) acupoints on sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) expression in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin-resistant (IR) rats. Methods. Wistar rats were divided into normal control (NC), HFD, and HFD+EA groups. NC rats were fed a standard chow diet and did not receive EA. After being fed an HFD for eight weeks, rats in the HFD+EA group received EA at 2 Hz five times a week for eight weeks. Rats in the HFD group did not receive EA. Results. In HFD-induced IR rats, EA inhibited body weight increase and water intake, which were observed in HFD rats. EA had no effect on fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood sugar levels. Intraperitoneal insulin tolerance testing revealed that EA enhanced insulin sensitivity in HFD-induced IR rats. Compared with NC rats, SIRT1 and GLUT4 were downregulated in the quadriceps femoris of HFD-fed rats but were increased after eight weeks of EA stimulation. Conclusions. EA enhanced HFD-induced insulin resistance by activating SIRT1 and GLUT4 in the quadriceps femoris. These results provide powerful evidence supporting the beneficial effects of EA on HFD-induced insulin resistance.

Keywords: SIRT1, GLUT4, electroacupuncture, insulin resistance, high-fat diet.

Correspondence: Fengxia Liang, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Wuhan 430061, China, E-mail: xf18171093910@163.com