Electroacupuncture combined with acarbose improves insulin sensitivity via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ activation and produces a stronger glucose-lowering effect than acarbose alone in a rat model of steroid-induced insulin resistance.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Previous studies have reported that electroacupuncture (EA) induces a glucose-lowering effect by improving insulin resistance (IR) and reduces plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels in rats with steroid-induced insulin resistance (SIIR). In addition, EA can activate cholinergic nerves and stimulate endogenous opioid peptides to lower plasma glucose in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the glucose-lowering effects of 15 Hz EA at bilateral ST36 in combination with acarbose (ACA). We hypothesized that EA combined with ACA would produce a stronger glucose-lowering effect than ACA alone.

METHODS:

In this study, normal Wistar rats and SIIR rats were randomly divided into two groups: ACA and ACA + EA. To explore the potential mechanisms underlying the glucose-lowering effect, plasma FFA/insulin and insulin transduction signal pathway proteins were assayed.

RESULTS:

Combined ACA + EA treatment had a greater glucose-lowering effect than ACA alone in normal Wistar rats (-45% ± 3% vs -19% ± 3%, p < 0.001) and SIIR model rats (-43% ± 2% vs -16% ± 6%, p < 0.001). A significant reduction in plasma FFA levels, improvement in homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) index (-48.9% ± 4.0%, p < 0.001) and insulin sensitivity index (102% ± 16.9%, p < 0.001), and significant increases in insulin receptor substrate 1, glucose transporter 4, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ protein expressions in skeletal muscle, were also observed in the ACA + EA group of SIIR rats.

CONCLUSION:

Combined EA and ACA therapy had a greater glucose-lowering effect than ACA monotherapy; this combined therapy could be more effective at improving IR in SIIR rats, which may be related to a reduction in plasma FFA levels and an elevation of insulin signaling proteins. Whether this combined therapy has an effect in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients still needs to be explored.

• Authors: Yuan-Chiang Chung, Ying-I Chen, Chih-Ming Lin, Su-Wei Chang, Tai-Hao Hsu, Wai-Jane Ho, Jaug-Geng Lin, Shih-Liang Chang, Chung-Yuh Tzeng
• Journal: Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society (Acupunct Med) Vol. 38 Issue 5 Pg. 335-342 (10 2020) ISSN: 1759-9873 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 32297559 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Glucose Transporter Type 4
• Insulin
• Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
• PPAR gamma
• Steroids
• Acarbose

Topics

• Acarbose (administration & dosage)
• Animals
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Electroacupuncture
• Glucose Transporter Type 4 (genetics, metabolism)
• Humans
• Hyperglycemia (etiology, genetics, metabolism, therapy)
• Insulin (metabolism)
• Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Insulin Resistance
• Male
• Muscle, Skeletal (drug effects, metabolism)
• PPAR gamma (genetics, metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Steroids (adverse effects)