Objective To explore the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture in the treatment of obesity. Methods A number of 10 rats from 70 rats were randomly selected as a normal group and given ordinary feed. The rest were given a high-fat diet for 8 weeks to establish an obesity model

and 30 rats that reached the obesity standard were randomly divided into a model group

an electroacupuncture group

and a sham electroacupuncture group

with 10 rats in each group. The electroacupuncture group selected "Zusanli（ST36）"

"Zhongwan（RN12）"

"Guanyuan（RN4）"

"Fenglong（ST40）" and connected them with electroacupuncture for 3 times a week for 8 weeks. In the sham electroacupuncture group

shallow acupuncture was performed about 5 mm away from the acupuncture point of the electroacupuncture group and the electrodes were clamped without electricity. The normal group and the model group were fixed at the same time. The body weight of rats in each group at 0

2

4

6

and 8 weeks of intervention were recorded

and the Lee′s index was caculated. After the experiment

the interleukin 6（IL-6） and silence information regulator 1（SIRT1） protein and mRNA expression were detected

and the degree of H3 K9 acetylation（H3 K9 ac） and the co-expression of SIRT1 and H3 K9 ac in the IL-6 gene promoter region were examined. Results Compared with the normal group

the Lee′s index of rats in the other groups increased significantly at 0

2

4

6

and 8 weeks

and the expression of SIRT1 protein and mRNA in the adipose tissue of rats in the model group decreased at 8 weeks

and the expression of IL-6 protein and mRNA increased

and the level of H3 K9 ac in the promoter region of IL-6 gene increased（P<0.05）. Compared with the model group

the body weight and Lee′s index of the rats in the acupuncture group decreased significantly at 6 and 8 weeks. The expression of SIRT1 protein and mRNA in adipose tissue increased

the expression of IL-6 protein and mRNA decreased

and the level of H3 K9 ac in the promoter region of IL-6 gene decreased（P<0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference between the sham electroacupuncture group and the model group（P>0.05）. SIRT1 and H3 K9 ac were co-expressed in the nucleus of adipose tissue in each group. Conclusion Electro-acupuncture can effectively reduce the weight and Lee′s index of obese rats. The mechanism may be related to activating SIRT1 expression in adipose tissue and reducing the degree of H3 K9 acetylation in the IL-6 gene promoter region.