针刺对肥胖大鼠瘦素水平和瘦素受体基因表达的作用

Effects of acupuncture on levels of leptin and expression of leptin receptor gene in obese rats

目的 :探讨针刺减肥的细胞分子作用机制。方法 :采用RT PCR技术测定瘦素受体 (OB R)基因表达水平 ,放射免疫分析测定血清和下丘脑中瘦素 (Leptin)和胰岛素 (INS)的含量 ,观察针刺治疗前后肥胖大鼠体重、李氏 (Lee s)指数、体脂、血清和下丘脑中瘦素和INS的含量以及下丘脑OB R基因表达的变化。结果 :肥胖的大鼠体重、Lee s指数、体脂及血清瘦素和INS水平均显著高于正常大鼠 ,而下丘脑瘦素和INS水平及OB R基因表达水平均明显低于正常大鼠。针刺治疗取得良好减肥疗效的同时 ,肥胖大鼠血清瘦素和INS均明显回降 ,而下丘脑瘦素和INS水平以及OB R基因表达水平却明显升高。结论 :针刺对肥胖机体中枢和外周瘦素和INS水平的良性调整作用以及促进下丘脑OB R基因表达可能是针刺减肥的细胞分子重要机制。

Objective To explore cellular and molecular mechanisms of acupuncture for anti-obesity. Methods Expression of leptin receptor (OB-R) gene was determined with RT-PCR technique, and contents of serum and hypothalamic leptin and insulin (INS) were measured with radioimmunoassay. The changes of body weight, Lee's index, body fat, contents of serum and hypothalamic leptin and INS as well as expression of hypothalamic OB-R gene in the obese rats were observed before and after acupuncture. Results The body weight, Lee's index, body fat and levels of serum leptin and INS in the obese rats were all markedly higher than those in the normal rats, but the levels of hypothalamic leptin and INS and the expression of hypothalamic OB-R gene in the obese rats were all lower than those in the normal rats. After acupuncture treatment, the marked weight lose effect was achieved and the levels of serum leptin and INS were obviously decreased, the levels of hypothalamic leptin and INS as well as the expression of hypothalamic OB-R gene significantly increased in the obese rats. Conclusion The benign regulative actions of acupuncture on the levels of central and peripheral leptin and INS as well as the promotion of the expression of hypothalamic OB-R gene are possibly important cellular and molecular mechanisms in the anti-obesity of acupuncture.