Fig. 2

EA at ST25 regulates PINS to repair pancreatic function. A Random blood glucose levels of rats during experiment. B Weight of rats during experiment. C Representative HE images of the pancreas among groups. D Representative IF images of the pancreas among groups. DAPI stained the nuclei (blue), the green immunofluorescence represents the pan-neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) and the red immunofluorescence represents the insulin. The orange color in the merged pictures indicates co-expression. Islets were observed under a microscope (× 400 magnification). Scale bar = 50 μm. Four groups share scale bars. E, F Effect of EA on insulin and E, H Pan-neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) expression. Vinculin was used as an internal reference protein, ^#P < 0.05 vs. normal control, ^*P < 0.05 vs. model or another treatment group. H, I Change in PINS discharge frequency after MA at ST25 or H, J ST37. PINS pancreatic intrinsic nervous system, ST25 Tianshu acupoint, ST37 Shangjuxu acupoint, MA manual acupuncture, INS insulin, PGP9.5 protein gene product 9.5