title: [Effect of moderate acupuncture-stimulation of "Taichong" (LR 3) on blood pressure and plasma endothelin-1 levels in spontaneous hypertension rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of different strength of acupuncture stimulation on blood pressure and plasma endothelin (E)-1 in spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) ,so as to seek a better acupuncture parameter for clinical treatment of hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight 9-week-old SHRs were randomized into mild-stimulation group, moderate-stimulation group, strong-stimulation group and model group (n = 7 in each group). Seven normotensive SD rats served as a normal control group. Acupuncture stimulation with mild, moderate and strong stimulation was applied to bilateral "Taichong" (LR 3) for 5 min, once daily for 7 days. Blood pressure (BP) was determined by using a non-invasive BP-6 detection system. Plasma ET-1 was assayed by radioimmunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the model group, the systolic pressure of the moderate-stimulation group on the 6th and 7th day was decreased significantly after acupuncture of "Taichong" (LR 3) (P<0. 01), being significantly lower than that of the mild- and strong-stimulation groups (P<0. 01). In comparison with the normal control group, plasma ET-1 level in the model group was increased significantly (P<0.01), while compared with the model group, only that in the moderate-stimulation group was down-regulated considerably (P<0. 01). No significant differences were found between the mild-stimulation and model groups, between the strong-stimulation and model groups, and between the mild-stimulation and strong-stimulation groups in plasma ET-1 level (P>0. 05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate-stimulation of "Taichong" (LR 3) can lower blood pressure and plasma EA-1 level in spontaneous hypertension rats. The reduced level of plasma ET-1 may be one of its mechanisms underlying improving hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China. vip.xmishu@gzhtcm.edu.cn
authors.forename: Jia-you
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-zhi
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Zhen-quan
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Mu-feng
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Chun-mei
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Zhong-hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xin-sheng
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1