Differential expressions of nNOS and iNOS in the rostral ventrolateral medulla induced by electroacupuncture in acute myocardial ischemia rats.
Increasing lines of evidence has been accumulated that nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) distribute plentifully in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and contribute to cardiovascular regulation. In the present study, the expressions of neuronal and inducible isoform of NOS (nNOS and iNOS) were observed in the RVLM of acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) Wistar rats experienced electroacupuncture (EA) treatment, thereby the cardiovascular effects of NO in the RVLM were investigated and the mechanism of acupuncture effect on AMI was inferred. The results indicated that in the AMI rats, cardiac functions were markedly attenuated with high serum level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and norepinephine (NE), the number of nNOS-immunoreactive cells and nNOS mRNA exprossion in the RVLM area were increased, while those of iNOS were lowered. EA at "Neiguan" acupoints (Pe 6) 30 min daily for successive 5 d resulted in an improvement of the cardiac functions, decreases in NE and BNP levels; it also increased the expression of iNOS and decreased the expression of nNOS in the RVLM. These results suggest that the curative effect of acupuncture on AMI is possibly attributable to the differential regulation of NOS/NO in the RVLM, leading to decreased sympathetic outflow and improvement of cardiac functions.
Xia
Chun-Mei
CM
Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Chen
Jun
J
Wang
Jin
J
Fan
Ming-Xin
MX
Xiao
Fen
F
Cao
Yin-Xiang
YX
Li
Li
L
Shen
Lin-Lin
LL
Zhu
Da-Nian
DN
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000378:metabolism*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat