子午流注针法对心理应激大鼠HPA轴中枢调控的影响

Effect of Zi Wu Liu Zhu Needling Method on the Central Regulation of HPA Axis in Psychological Stress Rat Models

目的观察子午流注针法对心理应激大鼠HPA轴中枢调控中促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素(CRH)、促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)、血清皮质醇(CORT)及免疫因子白细胞介素1 (IL-1)的影响,探讨子午流注针法治疗心理应激的机制。方法 52只Wistar大鼠随机分为子午流注开穴组、针刺对照组、造模组、正常组,每组13只。采用旁观电击实验建立心理应激模型。子午流注开穴组以养子时刻开穴法定时开穴治疗,针刺对照组针刺取百会穴。放射免疫法分别检测血清CORT和ACTH含量、下丘脑中CRH含量、垂体中ACTH含量、肾上腺中CORT含量,免疫组化法、RT-PCR法分别检测下丘脑、垂体中IL-1及其mRNA表达水平。结果与正常组比较,造模组大鼠血清CORT和ACTH水平、下丘脑中CRH含量、垂体中ACTH含量、肾上腺中CORT含量显著升高(P<0.01),下丘脑、垂体中IL-1及其mRNA表达水平显著升高(P<0.01);与造模组比较,子午流注开穴组大鼠血清CORT和ACTH水平、下丘脑中CRH含量、垂体中ACTH含量、肾上腺中CORT含量显著降低(P<0.01),下丘脑、垂体中IL-1及其mRNA表达水平显著降低(P<0.01);与针刺对照组比较,子午流注开穴组大鼠血清CORT和ACTH水平、下丘脑中CRH含量、垂体中ACTH含量、肾上腺中CORT含量明显降低(P<0.05),下丘脑、垂体中IL-1及其mRNA表达水平明显降低(P<0.05)。结论子午流注开穴针法可以调控心理应激大鼠CRH、ACTH、CORT的异常分泌,促进处于异常状态的HPA轴向正常状态恢复,其作用机制可能与下调IL-1 mRNA,减少诱发ACTH的分泌,传递信号参与大脑中枢调控有关,从而改善机体出现应激状态。

Objective To observe the effect of Zi Wu Liu Zhu(midnight-noon ebb-flow) needling method on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis in central regulation of corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH),adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),serum cortisol(CORT) and immunologic factor interleukin(IL)-1 in psychological stress rats,and to discuss the mechanism of Zi Wu Liu Zhu needling method in treating psychological stress.Method Fifty-two Wistar rats were randomized into a Zi Wu Liu Zhu acupoint-opening group,an acupuncture control group,a model group and a normal group,with 13 rats in each group.The psychological stress model was developed by witnessing electric shock experiment.The Zi Wu Liu Zhu acupoint-opening group was intervened following the acupoint-opening rule of nourishing the generation in Zi Wu Liu Zhu and the acupuncture control group was treated by acupuncture at Baihui(GV20).The contents of serum CORT and ACTH,the content of hypothalamic CRH,the content of pituitary ACTH and the content of CORT in adrenal gland were detected using radioimmunoassay;the expressions of IL-1 and its mRNA in hypothalamus and pituitary body were determined using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR,respectively.Result Compared with the normal group,the levels of serum CORT and ACTH,the content of hypothalamic CRH,the content of pituitary ACTH and CORT in adrenal gland increased significantly in the model group(P<0.01),and the expressions of IL-1 and its mRNA in hypothalamus and pituitary body also increased significantly(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the levels of serum CORT and ACTH,the content of hypothalamic CRH,the content of pituitary ACTH and CORT in adrenal gland decreased significantly in the Zi Wu Liu Zhu acupoint-opening group(P<0.01) and the expressions of IL-1 and its mRNA in hypothalamus and pituitary body also decreased significantly(P<0.01).Compared with the acupuncture control group,the levels of serum CORT and ACTH,the content of hypothalamic CRH,the content of pituitary ACTH and CORT in adrenal gland decreased significantly in the Zi Wu Liu Zhu acupoint-opening group(P<0.05) and the expressions of IL-1 and its mRNA in hypothalamus and pituitary body also decreased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion Zi Wu Liu Zhu acupoint-opening acupuncture can regulate the secretion of CRH,ACTH and CORT in psychological stress rat models and promote the recovery of the HPA function.The mechanism is possibly associated with the down-regulation of IL-1 mRNA,reduction of the ACTH production and inhibition of the signal transduction to the central system.