The AAO Journal, 2023/06, 33(2):36-37. doi: 10.53702/2375-5717-33.2.20, type of study: ,ani,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Free full text   (https://meridian.allenpress.com/aaoj/article/33/2/20/493544/LBORC-NUFA-Poster-Abstracts-2023-Students)

Keywords:

animal experiment [68]
endocrine system [10]
glucose [7]
insulin [4]
OMT [3925]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3946]
pilot study [216]
rats [15]

Abstract:

Introduction/Background: Previous reports suggest primary areas for blood glucose homeostasis include the autonomic nervous system, thoracolumbar diaphragm, abdominal lymphatic system, pancreas, liver, and adrenal glands. Objective: This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the feasibility of performing osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) on adult rats. Methods: Two groups of male rats were used. One group was fed a normal chow diet, whereas the other was fed a high-fat diet to induce obesity and insulin resistance. The high-fat diet rats were weighed every two weeks and blood glucose measurements began one month after starting the high-fat diet. In the pilot, rats fed with chow diet were anesthetized daily with isoflurane followed by OMT (rib raising and thoracolumbar diaphragm, celiac ganglia, suboccipital, and thoracic outlet release). Glucose was measured using a glucometer on blood from the tail immediately pre-OMT, 5 minutes post-OMT, and 15 minutes post-OMT. Sham control rats were anesthetized in parallel and received light touch. Results: The rats were able to be anesthetized and OMT, sequential blood glucose drawings, and weighing could be performed. The practitioner palpated somatic dysfunctions, indicating OMT will be possible in these animals. OMT does not acutely alter blood glucose levels in male rats fed with normal chow diet; however, blood glucose was altered, possibly from the isoflurane gas, which will be considered in the next phase. Conclusions and Discussion: This study demonstrates great promise in being able to study the efficacy of OMT in rats. The team will continue to assess both acute and long-term effects of OMT on insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis in normal and obese rats. Study limitations included rodent sex. Future studies will use both males and females to account for size and temperament differences accompanying sex.