title: [Effect of Electroacupuncture Stimulation of Acupoints at the Distal Limbs on Heart Function of Volunteers with Acute Hypoxia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of different acupoints at the distal ends of the limbs on cardiac function in volunteers with acute hypoxia, so as to determine if its actions are realized by way of segmental innervations or meridians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty healthy volunteers were divided into control, Quze (PC 3), Shousanli (LI 10), Guangming (GB 37) and Zusanli (ST 36) groups (both PC 3 and LI 10 are innervated by spinal C3-C6, and both ST 36 and GB 37 innervated by L5-S1). Acute hyoxia (simulating the conditions of about 5,000 m height above the sea level) was induced by asking the volunteers to inhale low-oxygen gas mixture (10.8% O2 + 89.2% N2) for 30 min, when, the participants' cardiac output (CO), heart rate (HR), left cardiac work (LOW), left ventricular ejection time (LVET)were measured using a ICG Monitor and EA stimulation (10 Hz/20 Hz, 1-2 V) was also conducted for 20 min following inhaling low-oxygen for 10 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before low-oxygen inhale, the levels of CO, HR, LCW and LVET ratios (test value/basic value) of the control, PC 3, LI 10, ST 36 and GB 37 groups were comparable (P > 0.05). After inhaling low-oxygen gas mixture for 10 min, the levels of CO, HR, and LCW ratios were significantly increased, and the LVET ratios were notably decreased in the five groups (P < 0.05). Compared with the 10 min-low-oxygen inhale of the same one group, CO and HR ratios at both EA 10 min and 20 min in the PC 3 and ST 36 groups, LCW ratios at EA 10 min in both PC 3 and ST 36 groups were notably down-regulated (P < 0.05), while the LVET ratios of both PC 3 and ST 36 groups was significantly prolonged (P < 0.05). No significant changes of CO, HR, LCW and LVET ratios were found in the LI 10 and GB 37 groups after EA for 10 min and 20 min (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA stimulation of Quze (PC 3) and Zusanli (ST 36), but not Shousanli (LI 10) and Guangming (GB 37) can lower CO, HR and LCW levels and increase LVET in volunteer subjects undergoing acute hypoxia, suggesting that the therapeutic effect of EA maybe not rely on the segmental innervations, but rather, depend on the meridians to which the acupoints belong.
authors.forename: Ya-qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Chun-ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Xiu
authors.forename: Zhe-yan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Sa
authors.forename: Jin-sen
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen