[Effect of electroacupuncture of "Neiguan" (PC 6) on Na+-K+-ATPase activity and its gene expression in cardiocyte membrane in rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Neiguan" and other acupoints on Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity and its gene expression in ischemic myocrardial cell membrane in rats.


METHODS
A total of 50 Wistar rats were randomly divided into pseudo-operation (control), model, Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7) and Hegu (LI4) groups, with 10 rats in each group. Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model was duplicated by occlusion of the descending anterior branch of the left coronary artery and reperfusion. EA (30/100 Hz, 2-4 mA) was applied to the above-mentioned acupoints for 20 min respectively. Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity was determined by inorganic phosphorus colorimetry, and Na+ -K+ -ATPase gene expression was detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.


RESULTS
Compared with control group, the activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase in model, PC6, HT7 and LI4 groups decreased significantly after myocardial I/R (P<0.05, 0.01); while in comparison with model, the activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase in PC6 group increased considerably (P<0.01). Regarding the expression of Na+ -K+ -ATPase mRNA, compared with control group, it was down-regulated significantly in model, HT7 and LI4 groups (P<0.01); while in PC6 group, Na+ -K+ -ATPase mRNA expression was up-regulated markedly compared with model group (P<0.05); The activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase and the expression of Na+ -K+ -ATPase mRNA in HT7 and LI4 groups were significantly lower than those in PC6 group (P<0.01, 0.05). No significant differences were found between HT7 and LI4 groups in the activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase and the expression of Na+ -K+ -ATPase mRNA (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
EA of "Neiguan" (PC6) may potentiate the activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase and up-regulate Na+ -K+ -ATPase mRNA expression, which may contribute to its protective effect on ischemic cardiocytes.
College of Acu-moxibustion and Massage, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410007, China. yj5381159@yahoo.com.cn
Jie
J
Yan
Xiao-Fang
XF
Yang
Shou-Xiang
SX
Yi
Xiao-Rong
XR
Chang
Ya-Ping
YP
Lin
Chao
C
Wang
Li-Hong
LH
Diao
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000201:enzymology / Q000628:therapy*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase