[Effects of electroacupuncture at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) on myocardial apoptosis and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in rats with ischemia-reperfusion injury].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To explore the protective mechanism of acupuncture on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

METHODS:

Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a model group, a Jiaji group , a Neiguan group and a Yanglingquan group, 10 rats in each group. The model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was duplicated by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA) in the later four groups, and the LADCA was not ligated in the sham-operation group. The rats in the treatment groups were treated with electroacupuncture at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2), "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) on both sides, respectively, once a day for 7 days. No interventions were produced in the sham-operation group and model group. Myocardial apoptosis were examined by the TUNEL method. The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were measured by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTS:

Apoptosis index(AI) was significantly lower in the Jiaji group, Neiguan group and sham-operation group compared with model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the sham-operation group, AI were significantly increased in other groups (all P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in AI between Jiaji and Neiguan group (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly increased and Bax protein was significantly decreased in Jiaji group and Neiguan group (both P < 0.01). The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were significantly increased in other groups compared with the sham-operation group (all P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins between Jiaji and Neiguan group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Electroacupuncture at both Jiaji (EX-B 2) and Neiguan (PC 6) has protective effects on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and the mechanism is closely related to inhibiting myocardial apoptosis by adjusting the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.

• Authors: Su-Ping Kong, Xin Zhang, Qi-Wen Tan
• Journal: Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion (Zhongguo Zhen Jiu) Vol. 33 Issue 6 Pg. 529-32 (Jun 2013) ISSN: 0255-2930 [Print] China
• PMID: 23967644 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis
• Electroacupuncture
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Myocardium (cytology, metabolism)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 (genetics, metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Reperfusion Injury (genetics, metabolism, physiopathology, therapy)
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein (genetics, metabolism)