title: [Effect of twirling-reinforcing-reducing needling manipulations on contents of serum acetylcholine and arterial NOS and cGMP in stress-induced hypertension rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of twirling-reinforcing or reducing needling manipulations on plasma acetylcholine (Ach) content and expression of nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in thoracic artery tissue in stress-induced hypertension rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 male rats were randomly divided into blank control, model, acupuncture (no-needle-manipulation) , twirling-reinforcing needling and twirling-reducing needling groups (n = 12 in each group). The stress hypertension model was established by giving the animals with noise and electric shock stimulation (paw), twice a day for 15 days. Acupuncture stimulation was applied to bilateral "Taichong" (LR 3) for 1 min, followed by retaining the needles for 20 min. The treatment was conducted once daily for 7 days. Systolic blood pressure of the rat's tail was detected with non-invasive method and plasma Ach, and NOS and cGMP contents in the thoracic artery tissue were measured using ELISA method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, the systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the model group after 15 days' stress stimulation (P < 0.01), while the contents of plasma Ach, arterial NOS and cGMP were markedly down-regulated (P < 0.01). Following 7 days' acupuncture interventions, the increased blood pressure was down-regulated in the no-needle-manipulation, twirling-reinforcing needling and twirling-reducing needling groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); and the decreased Ach and NOS in the 3 treatment groups, and cGMP levels in the twirling-reinforcing and twirling-reducing needling groups were remarkably up-regulated (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). No significant change of arterial cGMP content was found in the no-needle-manipulation group (P > 0.05). The effect of the twirling-reducing needling was superior to that of no-needle-manipulation and twirling-reinforcing needling in lowering blood pressure and raising plasma Ach content (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The twirling-reducing needling of acupuncture has a significant anti-hypertensive effect in stress hypertension rats, which may be associated with its effects in raising blood Ach, and arterial NOS and cGMP levels.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ling-Qun
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Si-Si
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shu-Chao
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Qing-Guo
authors.initials: QG
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000097:blood*; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D000109:Acetylcholine