Abstract
Effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) stimulation mimics those of exercise in part. Since exercise increases glucose uptake in diabetic patients, the present study aimed to investigate whether EA stimulation can increase glucose uptake in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Rats were treated with STZ 2-3 weeks prior to the experiments. Experiments were performed under urethane-chloralose anesthetized, artificially ventilated condition. For EA stimulation two stainless steel needles were inserted perpendicularly about 5 mm into the right tibialis anterior muscle. The EA stimulation was delivered for 10 min at 10 mA, 20 Hz. Although EA stimulation had no effect on plasma concentration of glucose in the STZ rats, it changed plasma glucose response to insulin. Intravenous administration of 0.2 unit/kg insulin had no significant effect on plasma concentration of glucose before EA stimulation, whereas intravenous administration of the same dosage insulin significantly decreased plasma concentration of glucose after EA stimulation. These results suggest that EA stimulation can facilitate glucose uptake in response to insulin in STZ rats. [J Physiol Sci. 2006;56 Suppl:S205]
