Study of acupuncture on arcuate nucleus of obese rats

Objective It is to explore the mechanism of acupuncture on obesity. Methods The changes of body weight, Lee’s index, body fat, leptin and insulin (INS) levels of central and peripheral and the pontaneous discharges frequency of nerve cell in the Arcuate nucleus (ARC) in hypothalamus of obese rats were observed before and after acupuncture. Results The body weight, Lee’s index, body fat, 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 spontaneous discharge frequency of nerve cell in ARC were all lower than those in the normal rats. The marked weight lose effect was achieved with acupuncture treatment while the levels of serum leptin and INS obviously decrease, the levels of hypothalamic leptin and INS, and the spontaneous discharges frequency of of nerve cell in ARC of obese rats were markedly increased. Conclusion The abnormal transport of leptin and INS of blood-brain barrier, and the low nerve function of ARC may be the important reason for obesity. The good regulation function of acupuncture on the leptin and INS levels of central and peripheral, and the nerve function of ARC possibly were one of the anti-obesity mechanism of acupuncture.