The Effect of Acupuncture on Morphological Structure and Function of the Rats Spleen after Exhaustive Exercise

Abstract

Objective: to study the change of structure and function of spleen morphology in rats after exhaustive exercise, to explore the protective mechanisms of acupuncture on the spleen. Methods: 30 SD rats were divided into three groups: control group, model group and acupuncture group. Model group and acupuncture group received six-weeks exhaustive swimming training. The acupuncture group received acusector in their “Sanyinjiaoâ€, “Shenmenâ€, “Neiguanâ€, “Baihui†and “Sishencong†before an hour training. The last training later the spleen damage was examined. Results: Compared with the control group, model group’s pathological of spleen morphology changed more significantly, number of spleen apoptosis and activation of caspase-3 activity, GSH and MDA contents increased more dramatically (p<0.01), spleen T-SOD activity, levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ decreased significantly(p<0.01). Compared with the model group, acupuncture group’s pathological of spleen morphology changed less obvious, spleen apoptosis and caspase-3 activity, GSH and MDA contents decreased more significantly (p<0.01). Spleen T-SOD activity, levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ increased more significantly(p<0.01). Conclusion: There was obvious pathological state in morphological structure and function of spleen in rats after exhaustive exercise. However, rats’ “Sanyinjiaoâ€, “Shenmenâ€, “Neiguanâ€, “Baihui†and “Sishencong†received acupuncture can improve their spleen damages in some degree.