Conclusions
The current study demonstrated that surgery induced a delay in CT through the sympathetic pathway via α-adrenoreceptors; CT was restored by EA. These results suggest that EA can be used to treat POI through mediation of the autonomic nervous system.
Methods
An operation was performed in each rat, setting a cannula into the cecum to connect the proximal colon to inject markers. On the day after surgery, 20 metal radiopaque markers were administered to the proximal colon of each rat. These markers were visible throughout the GI tract on soft X-ray immediately after administration and up to 240 minutes afterward. The rats were divided into 5 groups with 9 rats in each group: (1) SS; (2) 5 days post surgery (POST-5D); (3) SS + phentolamine; (4) EA alone; and (5) EA + atropine. The EA was performed at ST 36 for 20 minutes at a frequency of 10 Hz and agents were administered in the appropriate groups before markers were administered and measurements were taken. Measurements were performed the day after surgery except in the POST 5-D group. CT was calculated by the geometric center on the images showing the CT for each rat.
Results
CT after surgery was delayed significantly and phentolamine accelerated CT. EA restored CT following surgery and atropine abolished the effect of EA on CT. Conclusions: The current study demonstrated that surgery induced a delay in CT through the sympathetic pathway via α-adrenoreceptors; CT was restored by EA. These results suggest that EA can be used to treat POI through mediation of the autonomic nervous system.