title: Transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation as a countermeasure against cardiovascular deconditioning during 4 days of head-down bed rest in humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spaceflight is associated with cardiovascular deregulation. However, the influence of microgravity on the cardiovascular system and its mechanisms and countermeasures remain unknown. Our previous studies have demonstrated that transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation (TEAS) is effective in improving orthostatic tolerance (OT). The purpose of this study was to determine if TEAS treatment can attenuate cardiovascular deconditioning induced by a 4-day -6° head-down bed rest (HDBR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen healthy male subjects were randomly allocated to a control group (control, n=6, 4 days HDBR without countermeasures) and a TEAS treatment group (TEAS, n=8, 4 days HDBR with TEAS at Neiguan (PC6) for 30 min each day for 4 consecutive days during HDBR). OT, plasma hormones, plasma volume and heart rate variability were assessed before and after HDBR. Cardiac function and cerebral blood flow were measured before, during and after HDBR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data showed that TEAS treatment mitigated the decrease in OT that was observed in the control group and cardiac function, alleviated autonomic dysfunction, and partially prevented plasma volume reduction after HDBR. Angiotensin II and aldosterone were significantly increased by 129.3% and 133.3% after HDBR in the TEAS group (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that 30 min of daily TEAS treatment at PC6 is partially effective in maintaining OT, probably due to increased plasma volume-regulating hormones and activation of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system. TEAS treatment appears effective at reducing cardiovascular deconditioning induced by HDBR for 4 days.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT02300207.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Aerospace Medicine, Department of Aerospace Biodynamics, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Aerospace Medicine, Department of Aerospace Biodynamics, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xiaotao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Aerospace Medicine, Department of Aerospace Biodynamics, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Changbin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Aerospace Medicine, Department of Aerospace Biodynamics, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Yongchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Aerospace Medicine, Department of Aerospace Biodynamics, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Aerospace Medicine, Department of Aerospace Biodynamics, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Luan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Aerospace Medicine, Department of Aerospace Biodynamics, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xiqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001510:Bed Rest; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018493:Cardiovascular Deconditioning; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D018475:Head-Down Tilt; D006339:Heart Rate; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054971:Orthostatic Intolerance; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones
keywords: ACUPUNCTURE