Abstract: ObjectiveTo study the effect of acupuncture on resistin and adiponectin and its gene expression in type 2 diabetic rats.MethodsThe rats of type 2 diabetes model were randomly divided into acupuncture group, rosiglitazone group and model control group, meanwhile 8 normal rats were assigned as the normal control group. The changes of total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were measured. The expression of resistin gene and adiponectin gene in the adipose tissue was determined with RT-PCR. The level of serum resistin and adiponectin in type 2 diabetes rats were observed before and after acupuncture.ResultsThe levels of TC, TG, FPG resistin lowered obviously, and the levels of HDL-C adiponectin raised significantly. The expression of resistin gene lowered obviously. The expression of adiponectin gene significantly raised in acupuncture group, compared with the model control(P＜0.01, P＜0.05).ConclusionAcupuncture can decrease resistin gene expression, raise adiponectin gene expression, accordingly release insulin resistance.

Key words: acupuncture, type 2 diabetes mellitus, resistin, adiponectin, gene expression