Abstract
We have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation to the tibialis anterior muscle improves plasma glucose response to insulin in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. In the present study, we aimed to clarify whether the effect of EA stimulation on the insulin sensitivity is mainly due to contraction of the muscle or excitation of the somatic afferents. Rats were treated with STZ two weeks prior to experiments. Experiments were performed under urethane-chloralose anesthetized, artificially ventilated condition. EA stimulation was delivered for 10 min at 10 mA, 20 Hz via two stainless steel needles which were inserted perpendicularly about 5 mm into the right tibialis anterior muscle. In rats whose right sciatic and femoral nerves were severed, EA stimulation to the tibialis anterior muscle failed to improve plasma glucose response to insulin. These results suggest that in STZ rats EA stimulation can facilitate glucose uptake in response to insulin by reflex mechanism, i.e., via excitation of the somatic afferents. [J Physiol Sci. 2007;57 Suppl:S238]
