Influences of electroacupuncture in different acupoints on TNF-α and GSH in different viscera in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To observe the influences of electroacupuncture in different acupoints on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and glutathione (GSH) distributed in different viscera in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Wistar male rats (n=28) were divided into normal group, model group, Chize (LU5) group and Fenglong (ST40) group (each n=7). Except normal group, other groups were given tracheal instillation of LPS combining smoking method for establishing COPD model, and at the same time were given electroacupuncture once every other day for 12 times. When the test was finished, the samples were taken and homogenized, and the content of TNF-α in lung and intestines and the content of GSH in liver, spleen, lung and intestines were detected by using radioimmunoassay. Results The content of TNF-α in lung was higher than that in intestines in all groups, and increased significantly in normal group and ST40 group (P0.05). Compared with normal group, the content of GSH in spleen increased significantly (P0.05) and decreased significantly in intestines (P0.05) in model group, and decreased significantly in ST40 group (P0.05). Compared with model group, the content of GSH in spleen decreased significantly in LU5 group (P0.05), decreased significantly in lung in ST40 group (P0.05). The content of GSH in intestines and spleen was higher than that in lung and liver in normal group (P0.01, P0.05), and was higher in intestines than that in spleen (P0.05). The content of GSH in spleen was higher than that in liver in model group (P0.01), and was higher in intestines than that in lung and liver in LU5 group (P0.05). The content of GSH in spleen and intestines was higher significantly than that in lung and liver in ST40 group (P0.01). Conclusion Electroacupuncture in LU5 and ST40 can reduce the content of GSH in liver, spleen and lung, which is more significant in spleen during electroacupuncture in LU5 and more significant in lung during electroacupuncture in ST40. The pathological stimulation of COPD can induce the rank swap of the content of GSH in spleen and intestines. Electroacupuncture in LU5 can recover this rank change, and electroacupuncture in ST40 can not correct this rank chang.