Electroacupuncture at ST25 combined with metformin improves intestinal function via the JAK/STAT pathway in a rat model of diabetes.

This article investigates the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the acupuncture point ST25 (Tianshu) combined with metformin (Met) on intestinal injury and insulin resistance in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study found that both EA and Met, alone or combined, improved fasting plasma glucose, insulin resistance, and intestinal morphology, with EA showing superior effects on fecal water content and intestinal mucosal repair. Molecular analyses revealed that EA at ST25 activated specific members of the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway in the jejunum and ileum, while the combination of EA and Met enhanced STAT protein expression in the colon, indicating segment-specific intestinal responses. Additionally, bioinformatic analysis identified microRNAs potentially regulating STAT family members, suggesting a complex regulatory network involved in diabetic intestinal injury. These findings provide a theoretical basis for using EA combined with Met to ameliorate diabetes-related intestinal dysfunction via modulation of the JAK/STAT pathway.