Effects of acupuncture pretreatment on ischemic cardiac muscle cell apoptosis and gene expression in ischemia-reperfusion rats

Objective  To investigate the protective effects of acupuncture pretreatment on ischemic myocardium, the protective mechanism of acupuncture pretreatment on ischemic myocardium was explored by observing the cardiac muscle cell apoptosis and the expression of HSP70 mRNA of ischemia-reperfusion injury rats treated with acupuncture pretreatment. Methods  Sixty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight groups: control group, sham surgery group, ischemia-reperfusion group, ischemia pretreatment group, manual acupuncture pretreatment group (once a day), electroacupuncture pretreatment group (once a day), manual acupuncture pretreatment group (twice a day), and electroacupuncture pretreatment group (twice a day). The reperfusion model of rat myocardial ischemia was made. Expression of HSP70 mRNA was assayed by in situ hybridization, and cell apoptosis by TUNEL. Results  Compared with those in the control group and the sham surgery group, the apoptosis and the expression of HSP70 mRNA were increased in the ischemia-reperfusion group. Compared with those in the ischemia-reperfusion group, the cardiac muscle cell apoptosis was decreased and the HSP70 mRNA was increased in the rats treated with acupuncture pretreatment; meanwhile, acupuncture pretreatment twice a day had stronger effects than acupuncture pretreatment once a day and ischemia pretreatment. Conclusion  Acupuncture pretreatment can inhibit the cardiac muscle cell apoptosis, and up-regulate the expression of HSP70 mRNA in ischemia-reperfusion rats. Acupuncture pretreatment twice a day has stronger effects than pretreatment once a day. Author: ZHAO Yu-hui (1978–), male, PhD, the dean of rehabilitation department