Electroacupuncture Protects against CCK-Induced Acute Pancreatitis in Rats

<i>Objective:</i> Electroacupuncture (EA) has been used to treat myalgia, adiposis and gastroenteropathy in Korea. EA as a complementary and alternative medicine has been accepted worldwide mainly for the treatment acute and chronic pain and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of EA on acute pancreatitis induced by cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK) in rats. <i>Methods:</i> Animals were divided into four groups: (1) a normal group; (2) a CCK-induced acute pancreatitis group; (3) a CCK-induced acute pancreatitis group treated with 100-Hz EA, and (4) a CCK-induced acute pancreatitis group treated with 2-Hz EA. High-frequency (100-Hz) and low-frequency EA (2-Hz) stimulations were applied to an acupoint equivalent to Zusanli (ST36) in rats, followed by 75 µg/kg CCK subcutaneously three times, after 1, 3 and 5 h. The entire procedure was repeated over 5 days. Repeated CCK treatment resulted in typical laboratory and morphological changes in experimentally induced pancreatitis. <i>Results:</i> EA significantly decreased the pancreatic weight/body weight ratio in CCK-induced acute pancreatitis, increased the pancreatic levels of HSP60 and HSP72, and decreased the β-amylase and lipase levels associated with CCK-induced acute pancreatitis. Furthermore, the release of ACTH was increased in the blood serum of the EA-treated group. <i>Conclusion:</i> EA may have protective effects against CCK-induced acute pancreatitis through the release of ACTH.