Effects of acupuncture on serum Leptin level and neuronal activity in rats with spinal cord injury

doi:10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2025.4.14

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Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2025, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (4) : 450-455. DOI: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2025.4.14

Effects of acupuncture on serum Leptin level and neuronal activity in rats with spinal cord injury

Zhou Bin, Li Zhantao, Zuo Yanli*

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Abstract

Objective To explore the mechanism of acupuncture on serum Leptin level and neuronal activity in rats with spinal cord injury based on PI3K /Akt signaling pathway. Methods Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into Sham group, model group and acupuncture group, with 10 rats in each group. Spinal cord injury (SCI) rat models were established in all groups except Sham group. After successful modeling, acupuncture treatment was performed in the acupuncture group, while no intervention for other 2 groups. Results Compared with model group, nerve function scores of rats in acupuncture group was decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the Sham group, the serum Leptin level of rats in model group increased (P<0.05), and the serum Leptin level of rats in acupuncture group was higher than that in the model group (P<0.05). The apoptosis rates of neurons in Sham, model and acupuncture groups were (4.20±0.69) %, (26.81±4.59) % and (18.41±3.54) %, respectively, with statistically significant difference (F=115.000, P<0.001). Compared with Sham group, the levels of PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT and p-Akt protein in neurons of rats in model group decreased (P<0.05). Compared with model group, the levels of PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT and p-Akt increased in acupuncture group (P<0.05). Conclusions Acupuncture can reduce neuron apoptosis and improve nerve function in SCI rats. Acupuncture can up-regulate Leptin level and improve the repair of spinal cord injury, which may be related to the regulation of PI3K /Akt activity.

Key words

Spinal cord injury / / / Acupuncture / / / Neuronal activity / / / Phospholipid phthalinositol-3-kinase / / / Protein kinase B

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Zhou Bin, Li Zhantao, Zuo Yanli. Effects of acupuncture on serum Leptin level and neuronal activity in rats with spinal cord injury[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy. 2025, 43(4): 450-455 https://doi.org/10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2025.4.14

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