Abstract:Objective To observe the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) for different times on acute hepatic injury caused by triptolide in rats. Methods A total of 50 Sprague- Dawley rats were equally and randomly divided into normal group, model group, TEAS Ⅰ group (20- min stimulation), TEAS Ⅱ group (30- min stimulation), and TEAS Ⅲ group (40- min stimulation). The rat model of acute hepatic injury was established by treatment with triptolide by gavage. Since the first day of modeling, the TEAS groups were stimulated at Tsusanli (ST36) once daily for 5 days. Hepatic histomorphological changes were observed and levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum and malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF- α), interleukin- 10 (IL- 10), and hydrogen sulfide in liver tissues were measured. Results In the model group, disordered hepatic cords, sinusoidal expansion, hepatocyte edema, hepatic steatosis, and necrosis were observed. These pathological changes were alleviated in the TEAS groups. In comparison with those in the normal group, levels of ALT, AST, MDA, and TNF- α were significantly higher (P<0.05) and the level of hydrogen sulfide was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the model group. There was no significant difference in IL- 10 level between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with those in the model group, the levels of AST, ALT, MDA, and TNF- α in TEAS groups were significantly lower (P<0.05) or there was a decreasing trend in these indices (P>0.05); the level of hydrogen sulfide was significantly higher in the TEAS groups (P<0.05). Significant differences in these indices were observed between the TEAS Ⅲ group and the TEAS Ⅰ or Ⅱ group (P<0.05). Conclusion TEAS can reduce the injury to rat liver caused by triptolide, and the protective effect of long- time TEAS (40 min) is more remarkable compared with short- time stimulation (20 min or 30 min).