Intervention of electro-acupuncture and acupuncture on expression of related genes on lacrimal gland cholinergic signaling pathway in treating dry eye rabbits

Purpose: To determine expression of related genes on lacrimal gland cholinergic signaling pathway at day 17 of electro-acupuncture and acupuncture interventions in dry eye rabbit models. Methods: 18 healthy 3-4 month old New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into control group (CON group), model group (MOD group) and electro-acupuncture and acupuncture treated group (EA group). Observing times of tear flows, tear break-up time and corneal staining scores in 3 groups. Assaying the contents of acetylcholine (Ach) and detecting the effects to type 3 muscarinc acety-lcholine receptor (M3AChR), p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R). Results: Compared with control group, MOD and EA groups were significantly lower in tear flows and tear film break-time; and were significantly higher on Day 4. From Day 7 to Day 17, tears flows and tear film break-time of EA group were significantly higher than MOD group. About ach contents, MOD group was significantly lower than control group; EA group was significantly higher than MOD group in day 17. The acinar epithelial cells of the lacrimal gland were columnar, with small round cell nuclei in the basal part and abundant vesicular mucus in the glandular lumens in CON group. In day 17, M3AchR gene expression of EA was significantly lower than MOD group; Comparing with MOD group, MAPK gene expression of EA was significantly decreased. Conclusions: Repeated EA and acupuncture interventions have a time-dependent cumulative positive effect in dry eye rabbits, which is closely associated with its regulatory effects on M3AchR and MAPK levels.