Effect of Electroacupuncture on the Bladder Function in Rats with Bladder Hyperactivity

Objective:To investigate the neurobiological mechanism of electroacupuncture in inhibiting bladder hyperactivity induced by L-dopa by observing frequency of urination and expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide(VTP)in sacral dorsal horn.Methods:Forty-eight rats were allocated with a random number table into normal group(n=6),control group(n=14), model group(n=14),and electroacupuncture group(n=14).All rats were treated with bladder encheiresis.Rats in the normal group were not given injection.Rats in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with physiological saline.Rats in the model and electroacupuncture groups were intraperitoneally injected with Carbidopa and L-dopa.Continuous cystometry was performed to observe the effect of electroacupuncture on urination frequency.Dynamic changes of VIP in the sacral dorsal horn were measured by immunohistochemistry and quantitative image analysis after electroacupuncture.Results:In rats of model group,urination frequency increased after treatment(P0.05),in rats of electroacupuncture group,it increased at 15-75 min after L-dopa injection than that before treatment(P0.05),and was same as that before treatment at 75-105 min after L-dopa injection.Positive fiber and end of VIP in the sacral dorsal horn of rats in the electroacupuncture group were more than those in the normal and model groups at 3 h after L-dopa injection(P0.05),and was more than those in the normal group at 8 h after L-dopa injection(P0.05),and there was no significant difference between electroacupuncture and normal groups.Conclusion:Electroacupuncture can promote the release of VIP from afferent nerves in rats with L-dopa-induced bladder hyperactivity to decrease urination frequency.