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Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on gastrointestinal motility and the ultrastructure of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and the expressions of c-kit receptor protein and stem cell factor (SCF) mRNA in diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) rats, so as to explore its mechanism., Methods: Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into normal, model, acupoint, non-acupoint and metoclopramide groups (n＝10 rats/group). DGP model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 2%), and raised with high-sugar high-fat diet irregularly. EA (sparse-dense, 10 Hz/50 Hz, 2 mA, 20 min) was applied at "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Liangmen" (ST 21) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), and the corresponding non-acupoints of the 3 acupoints, daily for 15 days. The rats in metoclopramide group received intragastric administration of metoclopramide (1.7%, 1 mL/100 g) for 15 days, once a day. Blood sugar was determined with One Touch blood glucose test paper. The gastric emptying rate (GER) and the intestinal propulsion rate (IPR) were measured by intragastric phenol red. The ultrastructure of ICC was detected by transmission electron microscopy. The expression levels of c-kit receptor protein and SCF mRNA of gastric antrum were examined respectively by Western blot and RT-PCR., Results: Compared with the normal group, the blood glucose significantly increased in the model group ( P <0.01), while the GER, IRP and the expression level of SCF mRNA in the gastric antrum significantly decreased ( P <0.01), and the ultrastructure of ICC appeared apoptosis-like changes. The blood glucose of the EA group was obviously decreased compared with that of the model group ( P <0.05); the GER and IRP significantly increased( P <0.05, P <0.01); the expression level of SCF mRNA increased ( P <0.01), the number of ICC increased and its ultrastructure was repaired. There was some relief on ICC ultrastructure in the acupoint group compared with that in the non-acupoint group; and SCF mRNA increased ( P <0.05). There was no significant difference on c-kit receptor expression among all the modeling groups (P＞0.05)., Conclusions: EA at ST 36, etc. can regulate the blood glucose and improve gastrointestinal emptying in DGP rats. The mechanism may be related to up-regulating SCF mRNA, repairing ICC ultrastructure, restoring the pacing function, and improving gastrointestinal motility.

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention of "Zusanli"(ST 36), etc. on gastrointestinal motility and levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1 R) proteins in the gastric antrum in diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) rats, so as to study its mechanism underlying improvement of DGP., Methods: Fifty SD rats, half male and half female, were randomly allocated to control, model, EA acupoint, EA non-acupoint and medication (metoclopramide) groups ( n =10 rats/group). The DGP model was induced by 2% streptozotocin (STZ, i.p.i.,55 mg/kg) and high fat-sugar forage for 8 weeks. EA (10 Hz/50 Hz, 2 mA) was applied to "Zusanli"(ST 36), "Liangmen"(ST 21), "Sanyinjiao"(SP 6) and non-acupoints (about 5 mm lateral to ST 36, ST 21 and SP 6, respectively) for 20 min, one daily for 15 days, and 1.7% metocloppramide (1 mL/100 g) was given (gavage) to rats of the medication group, once daily for 15 days. After the treatment, the rats' general conditions were scored, the blood glucose level was determined using a glucometer, and the gastrointestinal mobility was evaluated by measuring the gastric emptying rate (GER) and the intestinal propulsion rates (IPR) marked by oral-infused phenol red solution (50 mg/dL). The immunoactivity levels of IGF-1 and IGF-1 R of gastric antrum tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)., Results: After modeling, the symptom integrative score, the blood glucose, IGF-1 and IGF-1 R levels were significantly increased ( P <0.01), and the GER and IPR were notably decreased relevant to the control group ( P <0.01). After EA stimulation of ST 36, ST 21 and SP 6, the symptom score, blood glucose, and IGF-1 and IGF-1 R levels of the gastric antrum were significantly reduced, while the GER and IPR were considerably increased ( P <0.05, P <0.01). Except the GER and IPR were considerably increased in the medication group( P <0.05, P <0.01), no significant changes were found in the symptom integrative score, the blood glucose, IGF-1 and IGF-1 R levels in both EA non-acupoint and medication groups relevant to the model group ( P >0.05),the GER and IPR in the EA non-acupoint group ( P >0.05). Compared with the EA acupoint group, the symptom integrative score, IGF-1 and IGF-1 R levels were significantly increased in both EA non-acupoint and medication groups( P <0.05, P <0.01)., Conclusions: EA stimulation can improve gastrointestinal motility and lower blood glucose in DGP rats, which may be closely associated with its effectiveness in reducing IGF-1 and IGF-1 R immunoactivity levels in gastric antrum.