Rong P J, Li S Y, Luo M and Zhai X
China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, China
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Altern Integr Med
High blood glucose level is the most prominent characteristic of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in which body cells have lost the ability to respond adequately to relatively normal levels of insulin. The effectiveness of auricular acupuncture in treatment of high level glucose is significant, but the mechanism is not clear. Our researches have demonstrated that afferent fibers in auricular area project to nucleus tract solitary (NTS), bipolar neuron in which will form synaptic connection with dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve. Fibers arising from long axons neurons in dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve can reach to pancreas. The post ganglionic fibers enter to �²-cell of acinus to regulate the secretion of insulin so that to form vago-insulin system. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) which is innervated by vagus nerve, would enhance the activity of parasympathetic nervous, invoke glucose-sensitive and insulin-sensitive neurons, especially the glucose inhibitory reaction cells, increase the insulin and decrease the glucose. In addition, taVNS would upregulate the expression of insulin receptors in different tissues such as hypothalamus, liver, skeletal muscle and activate signaling system in central as well as peripheral tissues, thus to improve insulin resistance and regulate glycometabolism in a long term. Therefore, we propose auricular - vagus nerve - insulin system as a new concept. As a new, effective, low-price treatment for glucose reduction, taVNS deserves widely used in clinic.
Email: drrongpj@163.com
Alternative & Integrative Medicine received 476 citations as per Google Scholar report
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