Effect of acupuncture on leptin-hypothalamic NPY chain in obese rat

Objectives: To investigate the effect of acupuncture on weight,lee′s index,serum leptin level and the contents of hypothalamic neuropeptide Y in obese rat fed by self-prescribed high calorie diet,research the mechanism of weight-lose function of acupuncture and provide a principle for the practice of acupuncture in clinic.Methods:The obese rats were prepared by self-prescribed high calorie diet.Immunohistochemical analysis of leptin in celiac adipocytes were performed.The serum leptin and hypothalamic NPY were measured.Results:Comparing with obese rat without acupuncture,in acupuncture obese rat,immunohistochemical stainings of leptin were weaker,the level of serum leptin decreased,and the hypothalamic neuroprptide Y level decreased.It suggested that the weight lose effect of acupuncture on obese rat was marked,and the machanism responsible for this was the affect of acupuncture on leptin-hypothalamic neuropeptide Y chain.Conclusion:The effect of acupuncture on obese rat fed by self-prescribed high calorie diet was good,which might be obtained by its effect on leptin-hypothalamic neuropeptide Y chain.