Electroacupuncture Ameliorates the Coronary Occlusion Related Tachycardia and Hypotension in Acute Rat Myocardial Ischemia Model: Potential Role of Hippocampus

Abstract

Mechanisms for electroacupuncture (EA) in disease treatments are still enigmatic. Here, we studied whether hippocampus was involved in the protection of EA stimulation on myocardial ischemia injury. Acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) model was produced. EA stimulation at heart meridian from Shenmen (HT7) to Tongli (HT5) was applied to rats 3 times a day for continuous three days. Coronary occlusion related tachycardia and hypotension, indicated by heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and rate pressure product, were apparently impaired after AMI injury. By contrast, EA stimulating could ameliorate the impairments of heart function (P < 0.05). Interestingly, lesion of CA1 region of hippocampus abolished the protection of EA. Neuronal activity in CA1 area was affected by AMI. As evidenced, cell counts, cell types, and frequency of the discharged neurons were facilitated after AMI, while EA stimulation attenuated the abnormalities. Furthermore, c-Fos expression was significantly facilitated in CA1 area after AMI, which was reduced by EA stimulation. Correlations were established between c-Fos expression and cell counts of discharged neurons, as well as between heart function and cell counts of discharged neurons. Taken together, EA stimulation at heart meridian protects against heart dysfunction induced by AMI possibly through suppressing the neuronal activity in CA1 region.

Transcriptome Profile of Hippocampus in Rats Model of Acute Myocardial Ischemia in Response to Electroacupuncture

“…The hippocampus is a critical brain structure for memory and cognition as well as cardiovascular function. Cognitive de cits have been reported in patients with cardiovascular disease [36][37][38]and heart failure patients exhibit damage to the hippocampus [39,40].We previously showed that the mechanism by which acupuncture alleviates AMI-induced damage in the hippocampus is through synergistic action of the paraventricular nucleus, which regulate the sympathetic nerve and the solitary tract nucleus, which regulates the vagus nerve [12][13][14].…”

“…And cognitive dysfunction due to AMI in adult mice was correlated with decreases in reactive gliosis and neurogenesis in the hippocampus [11]. In our previous work, we showed that EA alleviates AMI in the hippocampus via regulation of the autonomic nervous system speci cally through the synergistic regulation of the sympathetic and vagus nerves by the hippocampal paraventricular nucleus and solitary tract nucleus, respectively [12][13][14]. These results suggest that the hippocampus is an important central brain structure mediating the positive effects of EA following AMI.…”

The Beneficial Effects of Electro-acupuncture at PC6 (Neiguan-point) of Gene and Protein Expressions of Classical Inward-rectifier Potassium Channels in Myocardial Ischemic Rats

“…It usually occurs under strenuous exercise or emotional stress, lasting for a few minutes, and relieves itself after rest. Wu finds EA stimulation at HT7 (Shenmen-point), HT6 (Yinxi-point) and HT5 (Tongli-point) protects against the adverse impact on the cardiac function from hippocampus neuron, and improve the abnormal state of the heart function induced by MI, including heart rate, mean arterial pressure and rate pressure product [55]. According to modern medicine theory, MI is caused by coronary artery stenosis [51], and the pathogenesis of "thoracic obstruction" and "precordial pain" is blood vessel, in which the blood and qi circulate, impassability [52].…”

Application of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Intrauterine Adhesions in Rats

“…The immunohistochemistry of ER and PR expressions were conducted following the previous publication [13]. The primary antibodies against ER (1:200) and PR (1:200) were from Abcam (USA).…”