电针对衰老大鼠骨骼肌mTOR及磷酸化mTOR(ser2448)蛋白表达的影响

Effects of electroacupuncture on expression of mTOR and phosphorylated mTOR(ser2448) proteins in the skeletal muscle of aging rat

目的:探讨电针对衰老大鼠骨骼肌mTOR和磷酸化mTOR(ser2448)蛋白表达的影响,为针灸治疗衰老性骨骼肌萎缩提供实验依据。方法:将27只SD大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组和电针组,每组9只。注射D-半乳糖建立衰老模型。电针组电针"足三里""阳陵泉",连续波,频率20-30Hz,强度1m A,每次15min,每周5次,连续7周。取腓肠肌进行肌肉重量比较,采用Western blot方法检测mTOR和mTOR(ser2448)蛋白的表达。结果:与对照组比较,模型组腓肠肌重量明显减轻(P<0.01),而电针组与模型组比较,腓肠肌重量增加,但差异无统计学意义。mTOR和磷酸化mTOR(ser2448)的表达模型组较对照组明显下调(P<0.01),而电针组较模型组表达上调(P<0.01)。结论:电针可促进mTOR和磷酸化mTOR(ser2448)的表达,对骨骼肌衰老发挥治疗作用。

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture(EA) on expression of m TOR and phosphorylated m TOR(ser2448) proteins in the skeletal muscle of aging rat, so as to provide experimental evidence for treating aging skeletal muscle atrophy by acupuncture. Methods: Twenty-seven SD rats were randomly divided into control, model and EA groups(n=9). The rat model of aging was established by injecting the D-galactose. EA(1m A, 20-30Hz) was applied to bilateral ‘Zusanli'(ST 36) and ‘Yanglingquan'(GB 34) for 15 min, 5 times a week for 7 weeks. Weights of the gastrocnemius was measured, and Western blot was used to detect the expression of m TOR and phosphorylated m TOR(ser2448) proteins. Results: Compared with the control group, the weight of the gastrocnemius was reduced obviously in the model group(P<0.01). The weights of the gastrocnemius of EA group was increased compared with the model group, but results were not statistically significant. In comparison with the control group, muscular m TOR and phosphorylated m TOR(ser2448) protein expression were down-regulated significantly in the model group(P<0.01), while those in the EA group were up-regulated considerably compared with the model group(P<0.01).Conclusion: EA intervention improves the aging skeletal muscle atrophy by effectively up-regulating the expression of m TOR and phosphorylated m TOR(ser2448) in the skeleton muscle.