BACKGROUND: Our previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) can alleviate lung injury induced by limb ischemia-reperfusion, but the specific mechanism is still unclear.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The animals were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham), model group (IR), electroacupuncture group (EA), sham electroacupuncture group (SEA), and EA+luzindole group (EA+luzindole). The limb ischemia-reperfusion model was established according to previously described, the rabbits in the EA and EA+luzindole groups were given EA at ST36 and BL13 for 7 days before the model preparation and during the model implementation, however, sham EA was mainly used to stimulate the rabbits in the SEA group with shallow needling at the points 0.5 cm near ST36 and BL13. Then, 30 mg/kg of luzindole was intraperitoneally injected 30 minutes before the model preparation in the EA+luzindole group.

RESULTS: The wet weight/dry weight (W/D) ratio, lung injury score, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the EA group at 4 hours after reperfusion were significantly lower than those in the IR, SEA, and EA+luzindole groups. The levels of serum melatonin at T0 in the EA and EA+luzindole groups were significantly higher than those in the Sham group. The levels of serum melatonin at T1 and T2 in the IR group were significantly lower than those in the Sham group. There was no significant difference in the expression levels of melatonin receptor 1 (MR-1) and MR-2 in lung tissues among the 5 groups.

CONCLUSIONS: EA could alleviate the lung injury induced by limb ischemia-reperfusion by promoting the secretion of melatonin, while having no effect on the expression of melatonin receptor in lung tissues.

Keywords: acute lung injury, Electroacupuncture, Melatonin, Lung Injury, Reperfusion