Interventional effect of electroacupuncture combined with medicine on monoamine neurotransmitters in hypothalamus of rats with ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND： Ulcerative colitis （UC） is conventionally treated with sulfasalazine and other aminosalicylic acids. The symptoms of UC can be rapidly controlled, but high recurrence, severe adverse reactions and other shortages exist commonly. Whether electroacupuncture combined with medicine can make up these shortages remains unclear. OBJECTIVE： This study was to observe the regulatory effect of electroacupuncture combined with medicine on monoamine neurotransmitter in hypothalamus of rats with ulcerative colitis, and to analyze the pathogenesis of UC and the action pathway of electroacupuncture combined with medicine. DESIGN： A randomized controlled observation. SETTING： Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian. MATERIALS： Thirty involved male SD rats of clean grade, weighing （200±20）g, were provided by the Experimental Animal Center, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Sulfasalazine was produced in the Shanghai Sanwei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd [certification No. （1995）002083]. METHODS： This study was carried out in the State Laboratory （grade 3） for Acupuncture and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian. The involved 30 rats were randomized into 5 groups： normal group, model group, electroacupuncture group, medicine group and electroacupuncture combined with medicine group, with 6 rats in each group. Rats in the latter 4 groups were prepared into models of UC. In the electroacupuncture group, Zusanli（shuang） point was selected. Electro-acupuncture apparatus （G6805Ⅱ type） was connected to the point and used to stimulate it with continuous wave, frequency of 2 Hz, electrical intensity 4 mA, 20 minutes a day, for 14 days successively. In the medicine group, rats were intragastrically administrated with sulfasalazine, twice a day, 3 mL once, for 14 days successively. In the electroacupuncture combined with medicine group, rats were treated with electroacupuncture and medicine simultaneously as described in the previous two groups. Rats in the model group and normal control group were untouched except for being fixed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The levels of noradrenaline acid tartrate （NE）, 3-methoxy-4 hydroxyphenylglycol （MHPG）, dopamine hydrochloride （DA）, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid （DOPAC）, 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） hydrochloride, homovanillic acid （HVA） and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid （5-HIAA） of rats in each group were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）-electrochemical method. RESULTS： All the 30 involved rats entered into the stage of final analysis. ①Detection of NE and MHPG levels： After treatment, NE level in the hypothalamus of rats was significantly higher in the electroacupuncture combined with medicine group, electroacupuncture group and medicine group was all significantly higher than that in the model group, respectively （P 〈 0.01）. After treatment, MHPG level in the metabolite of NE was very significantly higher in the electroacupuncture group than in the medicine group （P 〈 0.01）. ②Detection of DA and DOPAC levels： After treatment, DA level in the hypothalamus of rats was very significantly higher in the medicine group than in the model group （P 〈 0.01）. ③Detection of 5-HT, HVA and 5-HIAA levels： After treatment, 5-HIAA level in the hypothalamus of rats was significantly higher in the medicine group than in the model group （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： The abnormal synthesis and metabolism of monoamine neurotransmitter in the central nervous system is one of pathogenesis of UC. Electroacupuncture combined with medicine might reach its goal of treatment by regulating the monoamine neurotransmitter disorder in the hypothalamus of rats with UC.