[Effects of electroacupuncture of "Shenmen" (HT 7) and "Taixi" (KI 3) on cardiac sympathetic activities in acute myocardial ischemia rabbits].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of different acupoints on activities of the cardiac sympathetic nerve in rabbits with acute myocardial schemia (AMI).

METHODS

A total of 40 Chinchilla rabbits were randomized into normal control, model, Shenmen (HT 7), Taixi (KI 3) and non-acupoint groups (n8/group). AMI model was established by intravenous injection of pituitrin (3 U/kg). EA (1.1 mA, 2 Hz) was applied to bilateral HT 7, KI 3 and non-acupoint (the bulge site of the triangular muscle) for 10 mm. The rabbit's cardiac sympathetic discharges were recorded by BIOPAC under anesthesia.

RESULTS

In comparison with control group, the heart rate (HR) and the frequency of cardiac sympathetic discharges (CSD) decreased significantly after AMI (P < 0.01). At the moment of cease of EA, at 20 mm after EA, HR and 050 frequency in HT 7 group were significantly higher than those of model group (P < 0.01), suggesting a favorable inhibition of EA of HT 7 on the decreased HR and OSO. No significant differences were found between KI 3 and model groups, and between KI 3 and non-acupoint groups in both HR and OSD at any time courses (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

EA of HT 7 can correct AMI-induced decrease of both HR and OSO in the rabbit, while EA of KI 3 and non-acupoint have not this effect, suggesting a relatively specific efficacy of EA of different acupoints on cardiac sympathetic activities.