BACKGROUND: There is some evidence to support the use of acupuncture as an alternative therapy for @entity565 . However, the mechanisms underlying its effects are not fully understood. We have reported previously that acupuncture has beneficial effects on @entity565 without changing the concentration of serum @entity701 , although endogenous glucocorticoid (GC) plays an important role in regulating immune responses. OBJECTIVE: In this study, bilateral adrenalectomy (removal of both adrenal glands) was performed in @entity35 before @entity565 model induction to investigate whether acupuncture influences @entity565 in a GC-dependent manner. METHODS: Adrenal-intact and adrenalectomised @entity35 were injected with ovalbumin to induce @entity565 and then left untreated or treated with manual acupuncture (MA) at GV14, bilateral BL12 and bilateral BL13, or manual restraint without MA. Healthy and sham-adrenalectomised control groups were also included. Pulmonary resistance (RL), serum concentrations of @entity2819 , and eosinophil counts were measured at the end of the experimental course. Sera from adrenal-intact and adrenalectomised @entity748 @entity35 treated with acupuncture were injected into untreated adrenal-intact and adrenalectomised @entity748 @entity35 to investigate further the potential role of GC in the effect of acupuncture. RESULTS: Acupuncture significantly decreased RL and eosinophil count in both adrenal-intact and adrenalectomised @entity748 @entity35 . Moreover, administration of sera derived from acupuncture-treated adrenal-intact and adrenalectomised @entity748 @entity35 attenuated the increase in RL and eosinophil count in both @entity748 models. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study suggest that endogenous GC is not a key contributor to the effects of acupuncture on @entity565 , and that acupuncture may have potentially therapeutic effects on @entity565 in a GC-independent manner.

Acupuncture has a positive effect on @entity748 XXXX in a glucocorticoid-independent manner.

@entity748 :: ('MESH:D013224', 'Disease') :: ['asthmatic'] @entity565 :: ('MESH:D001249', 'Disease') :: ['asthma'] @entity2819 :: ('MESH:D003345', 'Chemical') :: ['corticosterone'] @entity701 :: ('MESH:D006854', 'Chemical') :: ['cortisol'] @entity35 :: ('10116', 'Species') :: ['rats']
@entity35 :: (10116,Species) :: ['rats']
