Zhang Huan-Huan, Wang Ya-Jing, Zheng Chao, Wang Meng-Ya, Zhu Da-Nian
Cell Electrophysiology Laboratory, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China.
Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Sheng Li Xue Bao. 2018 Apr 25;70(2):99-105.
Apelin is a novel endogenous active peptide. The aim of this study is to investigate whether apelin in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) can improve the cardiac function in rats subjected to thoracic surgery trauma, and whether it is involved in the protective effect of electro-acupuncture (EA). Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into non-stressed group (control), thoracic surgical trauma stressed group (trauma) and bilateral Neiguan EA applied on thoracic surgical trauma stressed group (trauma + EA-PC 6). The mRNA expressions of apelin receptor (APJR) and apelin in the PVN were detected by real time-PCR. The exogenous apelin-13 (6 mmol/L, 0.1 μL) was microinjected into the rat PVN in the thoracic trauma group, and the effects of apelin-13 on the blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and the discharge of rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) neurons were observed through the simultaneous recording technology by polygraph. The results showed that the APJR mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the rats of trauma group as compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05), and a decline trend of apelin mRNA expression was also observed. EA application at bilateral Neiguan acupoints partially recovered the decline of APJR and apelin mRNA expression by the treatment of thoracic trauma. Both mean arterial pressure and HR in the thoracic surgical trauma group were significantly increased by the microinjection of exogenous apelin-13 into the PVN (P < 0.05), and the single-unit discharge rate of RVLM neurons also had an increasing trend. These results suggest that apelin in the PVN can improve the cardiac function of thoracic surgical trauma rats, and may be involved in the protective effects of EA.
阿片肽是一种新型内源性活性肽。本研究旨在探讨室旁核（PVN）中的阿片肽是否能改善胸部手术创伤大鼠的心脏功能，以及它是否参与电针（EA）的保护作用。将Sprague-Dawley大鼠随机分为非应激组（对照组）、胸部手术创伤应激组（创伤组）和胸部手术创伤应激组双侧内关穴电针治疗组（创伤 + EA-PC 6组）。采用实时荧光定量PCR检测PVN中阿片肽受体（APJR）和阿片肽的mRNA表达。在胸部创伤组中，将外源性阿片肽-13（6 mmol/L，0.1 μL）微量注射到大鼠PVN中，通过多导生理记录仪同步记录技术观察阿片肽-13对血压（BP）、心率（HR）和延髓头端腹外侧区（RVLM）神经元放电的影响。结果显示，与对照组相比，创伤组大鼠APJR mRNA表达显著降低（P < 0.05），阿片肽mRNA表达也呈下降趋势。双侧内关穴电针治疗部分恢复了胸部创伤所致的APJR和阿片肽mRNA表达下降。向PVN微量注射外源性阿片肽-13可使胸部手术创伤组的平均动脉压和HR均显著升高（P < 0.05），RVLM神经元的单单位放电率也有升高趋势。这些结果表明，PVN中的阿片肽可改善胸部手术创伤大鼠的心脏功能，可能参与了电针的保护作用。
