Digital Chinese Medicine (Mar 2024)
Effects of Tuina targeting different body parts on the behaviors and gut microflora of autistic spectrum disorder rat models
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effects of Tuina targeting different body parts on the behaviors and gut microflora of rat models with valproic acid (VPA)-induced autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: Twenty female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with 12.5 d of pregnancy were randomly divided into VPA model group [intraperitoneal injection of VPA (600 mg/kg), n = 15] and saline group (intraperitoneal injection of equal amount of normal saline, n = 5). The offspring male rats injected with saline were secleted as control group. The offspring male rats injected with VPA were randomly divided into VPA, dorsal, and abdominal groups (n = 7 in each group). On the 21st day after birth, three-chamber social test, open field test, and marble-burying test were carried out to observe the social abilities, anxiety behaviors, and stereotypical behaviors of rats in the four groups. Rats in dorsal and abdominal groups underwent Tuina for 14 d, twice a day. On the 35th day, behavioral tests were conducted again, and intestinal contents were taken for species composition and structural analysis, as well as marker and differential species analysis. Results: (i) According to behavioral observations, compared with VPA group, the social and movement time in the central open field of rats in dorsal group increased significantly (P 0.05). (ii) In accordance with intestinal microflora detection results, compared with VPA group, both dorsal and abdominal groups showed increased richness (P < 0.05) and elevated diversity (P < 0.05 in dorsal group and P < 0.01 in abdominal group) in intestinal microflora. The results of differential analysis indicated that at the phylum level, compared with VPA group, the relative abundance of Firmicutes in rats in abdominal group showed a significant reduction trend (P < 0.05); at the genus level, compared with VPA group, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus in rats in dorsal and abdominal groups decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Dorsal group also showed significant increase in the genus Blautia in the analysis of marker species compared with VPA group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Tuina impacted the behavior and gut microflora structure of ASD model rats. Dorsal intervention had a significant effect on social abilities, anxiety behaviors, and stereotypical behaviors of ASD model rats, while abdominal intervention only had an obvious effect on stereotypical behaviors. Both dorsal and abdominal interventions increased the richness and diversity of gut microflora of ASD model rats, with abdominal intervention improving the intestinal microbial diversity more significantly and resulting in a more uniform species distribution.
