Objective: To investigate the protective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST 36) in pregnant rats on lung dysplasia of newborn rats with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) induced by maternal food restriction.
Methods: Twenty-four female SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a control+EA group, a model group and a model+EA group, 6 rats in each group. From the 10th day into pregnancy to the time of delivery, the rats in the model group and the model+EA group were given with 50% dietary restriction to prepare IUGR model. From the 10th day into pregnancy to the time of delivery, the rats in the control+EA group and the model+EA group were treated with EA at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36), once a day. The body weight of offspring rats was measured at birth, and the body weight and lung weight of offspring rats were measured on the 21st day after birth. The lung function was measured by small animal lung function detection system; the lung tissue morphology was observed by HE staining; the content of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in lung tissue was detected by ELISA.
Results: Compared with the control group, the body weight at birth as well as the body weight, lung weight, lung dynamic compliance (Cdyn) and PPARγ at 21 days after birth in the model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the peak inspiratory flow (PIF) and inspiratory resistance (RI) were significantly increased (P<0.01); the number of alveoli was significantly decreased, and the alveolar area and alveolar septal thickness were significantly increased, and some alveoli were ruptured and fused. Compared with the model group, the body weight at birth as well as the body weight, lung weight, Cdyn and PPARγ at 21 days after birth in the model+EA group were significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the PIF and RI were significantly reduced (P<0.05); the number of alveoli was significantly increased, and the alveolar area and alveolar septal thickness were significantly reduced, and the rupture and fusion of alveolar was improved.
Conclusion: EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) may protect the lung function and lung histomorphology changes by regulating the level of PPARγ of lung in IUGR rats induced by maternal food restriction.
目的：探讨电针母鼠“足三里”穴对孕期饮食限制诱发宫内生长受限（IUGR）子代大鼠肺发育不良的保护效应。方法：将24只雌性SD大鼠随机分为对照组、对照电针组、模型组和模型电针组，每组6只。模型组和模型电针组大鼠从妊娠第10天至分娩期间，给予母鼠50%的饮食限制制备IUGR动物模型。对照电针组和模型电针组妊娠第10天至分娩期间，采用电针母鼠双侧“足三里”穴进行治疗，每日1次。在子代大鼠出生时测量其体质量，并在子代大鼠出生后第21天，测量其体质量和肺质量，采用小动物肺功能检测系统测定其肺功能；HE染色法观察肺组织形态；ELISA法检测肺组织中过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ（PPARγ）含量。结果：与对照组比较，模型组子代大鼠出生时体质量及出生后第21天体质量、肺质量、肺动态顺应性（Cdyn）和PPARγ含量均降低（P<0.01），吸气峰值流速（PIF）值和吸气阻力（RI）值升高（P<0.01），肺泡数量减少，肺泡面积和肺泡间隔厚度增大，部分肺泡出现破裂、融合现象；与模型组比较，模型电针组子代大鼠出生时体质量及出生后第21天体质量、肺质量、Cdyn和PPARγ含量均升高（P<0.01，P<0.05），PIF值和RI值降低（P<0.05），肺泡数量增多，肺泡面积和肺泡间隔厚度减小，肺泡破裂、融合程度有所改善。结论：电针母鼠“足三里”穴可能通过调控肺组织中PPARγ含量，防护饮食限制诱发的IUGR大鼠肺功能和肺组织形态学改变。.
Keywords: electroacupuncture; intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR); lung development; maternal food restriction; peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ(PPARγ).