title: Protective effects of electroacupuncture at LR3 on cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis in hypertensive rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at LR3 on blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular remodelling and hypertrophy in male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy Wistar-Kyoto rats were used as normotensive controls (control group, n=9). SHRs either remained untreated (SHR group, n=9) or received EA treatment at LR3 (SHR+LR3 group, n=9) or a nearby non-acupuncture point (SHR+sham group, n=9) for 3 weeks. BP was measured on day 3 and day 19. Samples of left ventricle were stained with haematoxylin and eosin or subjected to terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP (deoxyuridine triphosphate) nick end labelling (TUNEL) to assess histology and apoptosis, respectively (n=3 per group). Western blotting was used to determine the relative expression of antioxidants and molecular markers of detoxification capacity, cardiac hypertrophy, and apoptosis (n=5 per group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  By day 3, the systolic BP, mean BP, and diastolic BP in the untreated SHRs increased from 169.5±14, 131.6±14, and 112.2±15 mm Hg (at baseline) to 179.6±1, 137.6±4, and 118.7±5 mm Hg, respectively (p<0.001 vs control group). BP in the SHR+LR3 rats was approximately 15 mm Hg lower than the SHR and SHR+sham groups (p<0.05). SHRs also exhibited cardiac hypertrophy (evident from histological and Western blot analyses). However, SHR+LR3 rats showed significant reductions in markers of cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis, as well as elevated expression of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA at LR3 reduced BP and had positive effects on markers of cardiac apoptosis and hypertrophy in a rat model of hypertension. Thus, EA is a potentially promising intervention to treat cardiovascular remodelling secondary to hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Nu
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Chang Lee
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan Chinese Medicine Department, China Medical University Beigang Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsung-Jung
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Marthandam Asokan
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shibu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, MeiHo University, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cecilia Hsuan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Vijaya Padma
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Viswanadha
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Armed Force Taichung General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chao-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Dennis Jine-Yuan
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yueh-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: CARDIOLOGY