Protective effect of electroacupuncture at the Neiguan point in a rabbit model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

OBJECTIVES: To investigate possible cardioprotective mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) at the Neiguan point and at: the Lieque Point In the presence of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). METHODS: The changes in ventricular tissue Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity were examined, its well as beta-endorphin (beta-EP) content in a rabbit model of MIRI. Four randomized groups were studied: sham, untreated MIRI, MIRI followed by EA at the Neiguan point, and MIRI followed by EA at: the Lieque point. The MIRI model involved ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 min followed by a 60 min postischemia reperfusion period. RESULTS: EA at the Neiguan point dramatically decreased the number of apoptotic cells and the content of beta-EP and MDA, and inhibited Bax protein expression while enhancing Bcl-2 expression and GSH-PX activity. Furthermore, EA enhanced Bcl-2 expression and GSH-PX activity. Lesser effects were elicited by EA at the Lieque Point. CONCLUSIONS: The cardioprotective effects of applying EA at the Neiguan point oil MIRI include reducing apoptosis, regulating apoptosis, controlling genes, and decreasing myocardial MDA and beta-EP while enhancing GSH-PX activity.