Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of electrical acupuncture on the cytokines in adjuvant arthritis rats. Methods 60 rats were divided into 5 groups randomly, each with 12 rats. The blank control group and the model group were only bundled; while the Zusanli group, the Guanyuan group, and the Weizhong group were electroacupunctured each single point after bundled, once per 2 d. 32 d later, the swelling of voix pedis was measured and the level of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in plasma was determined in each group. Results After being modeled, the voix pedis of rats were swelling (P<0.05), while the swelling of voix pedis in the Zusanli, Guanyuan and Weizhong groups significantly reduced (P<0.05). The plasma IL-1, IL-2 and TNF-α was significantly higher in the model group than in the blank group (P<0.01), and reduced in Zusanli, Guanyuan and Weizhong groups (P<0.05). Compared with Zusanli and Guanyuan groups, there was a significant difference in the Weizhong group (P<0.01). The plasma IL-10 was significantly lower in the model group than in the blank control group (P<0.05), and increased in the Zusanli, Guanyuan and Weizhong groups (P<0.05). Compared with Zusanli and Guanyuan groups, there was a significant difference in the Weizhong group (P<0.01). The swelling of voix pedis was positively correlated with the level of IL-1, IL-2, and TNF-α (r=0.881~0.912, P<0.01). There was positive correlation among the IL-1, IL-2, and TNF-α (P<0.01). IL-10 was negatively correlated with the swelling, IL-1, IL-2, and TNF-α (r=-0.293~-0.519, P<0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture can significantly reduce the swelling of voix pedis in adjuvant arthritis rats, and it may be related with improving immune function by increasing the level of IL-10 and decreasing the level of IL-1, IL-2 and TNF-α in plasma.

Key words: adjuvant arthritis, electrical acupuncture, swelling of voix pedis, cytokine, rats