Electroacupuncture and Moxibustion Decrease Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity and Retard Progression of Renal Disease in Rats

Abstract

Background/Aim: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasing major public health problem worldwide. The sympathetic nervous system and nitric oxide play an important role in the pathogenesis of CKD. Traditional Chinese medicine has accumulated thousands of years of therapeutic experiences. Electroacupuncture (EA) and moxibustion (MO) are two such therapeutic strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate the renal and hemodynamic effects of EA-MO in an experimental model of a CKD. Methods: Male Wistar rats submitted to 5/6th nephrectomy (5/6 NX) were studied for 8 weeks. There were four groups: (1) control, normal rats; (2) NX, 5/6 NX only; (3) NX-AS, 5/6 NX and EA-MO session using sham points, and (4) NX-AM, 5/6 NX and EA-MO session using real acupoints. Biochemical and blood pressure studies, renal sympathetic nerve activity measurements, nitric oxide levels and the histopathological indices were assessed. Results: The EA- and MO-treated group presented significant improvement in all measured functional and histopathological parameters. Conclusion: These findings suggest that EA-MO had beneficial effects on CKD. This effect was probably achieved by the modulation of the renal sympathetic nerve activity and nitric oxide levels, leading to decreased blood pressure, which is associated with less proteinuria.

Renal and Extrarenal Effects of Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) - What Can be Learned from Animal Experiments?

“…The effect of GA on blood pressure may have resulted from enhanced absorption of Ca 2+ , which may lower blood pressure due to stimulation of the Ca 2+ -sensingreceptor with subsequent vasodilation [26] and natriuresis due to inhibition of Na + ,K + ,2Cl - cotransport in the thick ascending limb [27]. Whatever mechanism involved, the decrease of proteinuria may delay the progression of renal disease [28], as proteinuria is an important parameter for the progression of renal disease [28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37]. …”

Effects of catgut-embedding acupuncture technique on nitric oxide levels and blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension

“…β endorphin inhibits rVLM activity, resulting in the suppression of the sympathetic nervous system, which reduces blood pressure [25]. The study by Paterno et al showed that BL23 (shenshu) can increase the NO serum level and that NO acts as a vasodilator [26].…”

Equine acupuncture methods and applications: A review

“…It can also help control renal failure by blocking sympathetic nerve action or controlling blood pressure (Paterno et al . ).…”

“…Recently some studies showed that analgesic effects of moxabustion could be explained by opioid release theory (Uryu et al 2007). It can also help control renal failure by blocking sympathetic nerve action or controlling blood pressure (Paterno et al 2012).…”