Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40779005›Full record

ArticleCurrent medical science2025

Electroacupuncture Improves Gastrointestinal Motility in Rats with Functional Dyspepsia via the GDNF/GFRα1/PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway.

Li Zhou, Xiao-Li Pan, De-Qian Yang, Qi Chen, Pai-di Xu, Hong-Xing Zhang

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Article in Current medical science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Li Zhou *Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China.
Xiao-Li Pan *Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China.
De-Qian YangCollege of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Qi ChenCollege of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Pai-di XuInstitute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China. 263070502@qq.com.
Hong-Xing ZhangInstitute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China. zhxzj99@aliyun.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-0615-5921

Funding

Science and Technology Research Program of Department of Education of Hubei Province Q20234413The Research Fund of Jianghan University 2024JCYJ13
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveAbnormal gastrointestinal motility plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia (FD). Although electroacupuncture (EA) has demonstrated efficacy in FD treatment, its precise mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the specific mechanism through which EA improves gastrointestinal motility in FD.

methodsPhysiological indices, including body weight, food intake, gastrointestinal motility, and gastrointestinal morphology, were utilized to assess the FD model in rats. EA interventions were applied at meridian points, as well as non-meridian points and non-acupoints, in FD model rats. The effects of EA at zusanli (ST36) and taichong (LR3) on gastrointestinal motility in FD model rats were elucidated using gastrointestinal motility test indices. Techniques such as Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR, and immunofluorescence were employed to determine the specific mechanisms by which EA improved gastrointestinal motility in FD model rats.

resultsMultifactorial stress intervention could be used to effectively establish an FD rat model. EA at ST36 and LR3 significantly improved gastrointestinal motility. Furthermore, EA at ST36 and LR3 upregulated the protein expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), GDNF family receptor alpha 1 (GFRα1), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (Akt), along with their mRNA expression levels and the number of enteric glial cells (EGCs).

conclusionsEA was capable of increasing the number of EGCs by activating the GDNF/GFRα1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, thereby improving gastrointestinal motility in FD.

Indexed as

DyspepsiaElectroacupunctureGastrointestinal MotilityGlial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic FactorGlial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ReceptorsAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalHumansMalePhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktRatsRats, Sprague-DawleySignal TransductionGdnf protein, ratGlial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic FactorGlial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ReceptorsPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktElectroacupunctureEnteric glial cellEnteric nervous systemFunctional dyspepsiaGastrointestinal motility

Identifiers

PMID40779005

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.