Jiaji (EX-B2)-Based Electroacupuncture Preconditioning Attenuates Early Ischaemia Reperfusion Injury in the Rat Myocardium.

Ning Xiao,Yang Li,Xin Zhang,Ming-Lu Shao,Chang-Yun Zhang,Qi-Wen Tan,Su-Ping Kong,Hui-Juan Yu,Hua-Feng Cui

doi:10.1155/2020/8854033

Abstract

Background Acupuncture preconditioning was able to reduce the extent of ischaemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. Previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment at T4-T5 Jiaji (EX-B2) acupoints had cardioprotective effects against myocardial I/R injury. However, the molecular mechanism remains inconclusive. Methods Wistar rats were pretreated with electroacupuncture for 7 days at the Neiguan (PC6), T4-T5 Jiaji (EX-B2), Yanglingquan (GB34), and Quchi (LI11) acupoints, which belong to different meridians. Then, we investigated the genome-wide gene expression profiles of rats prestimulated at these acupoints after I/R injury. Results Our study revealed previously unknown cardioprotective roles of T4-T5 Jiaji (EX-B2) acupoints in the I/R progression. The extent of myocardial injury was significantly decreased in the Jiaji group compared with the I/R group. In addition, our data are among the first to link the EA preconditioning at Neiguan (PC6) acupoints and circadian rhythm in the I/R model. Also, for the first time, we explored the meridian and acupoint specificity involved in EA pretreatment at the heart meridian, in which Yanglingquan and Quchi acupoints were selected as the control group for heart-divergent-meridian and nonheart-meridian acupoints. Conclusions The present study suggested that EA pretreatment at Jiaji alters genome-wide gene expression and protects the rat myocardium against I/R injury, which are most likely through neurohumoral regulation.

Highlights

Growing evidence has shown that acupuncture has therapeutic effects on certain types of hypertension, angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, and ischemic heart disease [1,2,3,4]
To assess ischaemia reperfusion (I/R) injury, occlusion (30 min) of the left anterior descending coronary artery was followed by 30 min reperfusion
We did not find the myocardial infarction site in the I/R group or other EA preconditioning groups. is may be due to the short-term nature of the reperfusion, which occurs at the early stage of myocardial dysfunction. e extent of myocardial injury was assessed by haematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson’s trichrome staining (Figures 2(a) and 2(b))

Summary

Introduction

Growing evidence has shown that acupuncture has therapeutic effects on certain types of hypertension, angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, and ischemic heart disease [1,2,3,4]. E acupoint Neiguan (PC6), on the pericardium meridian, has been shown to function in cardiac protection. Evidence from clinical practice has shown that acupuncture at T4-T5 Jiaji (EX-B2) acupoints can improve angina pectoris and promote myocardial ischaemia tolerance in adult patients [12]. Previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment at T4-T5 Jiaji (EX-B2) acupoints had cardioprotective effects against myocardial I/R injury. Wistar rats were pretreated with electroacupuncture for 7 days at the Neiguan (PC6), T4-T5 Jiaji (EX-B2), Yanglingquan (GB34), and Quchi (LI11) acupoints, which belong to different meridians. E present study suggested that EA pretreatment at Jiaji alters genome-wide gene expression and protects the rat myocardium against I/R injury, which are most likely through neurohumoral regulation Conclusions. e present study suggested that EA pretreatment at Jiaji alters genome-wide gene expression and protects the rat myocardium against I/R injury, which are most likely through neurohumoral regulation

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion