Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on the expression of norepinephrine transporter (NET) mRNA in the middle cervical-stellate ganglion complex (MC-SGC) and beta1-adrenergic receptor (beta1-AR) mRNA in the left ventricular myocardium in cerebral-cardiac syndrome (CCS) rats, so as to study its underlying mechanism in the prevention and treatment of CCS.
Methods: Eighteen Wistar rats were randomized into sham operation, model and EA groups (n=6). CCS model was duplicated by intravenous injection of 1 microL of saline containing collagenase (1 U/microL) + heparin (7 U/microL) into the caudate nucleus. EA (2 Hz, 5 V) was applied to "Shuigou" (GV 26)-"Fengfu" (GV 16), and "Neiguan" (PC 6)-"Xinshu" (BL 15) for 20 min, once daily for 3 days. Seventy-two hours after modeling, pathological changes of the brain and cardiac tissues were observed after sectioning and stained with HE method. The expression of MC-SGC NET mRNA and the myocardial p1-AR mRNA of the left ventricle were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR.
Results: (1) In comparison with the model group, the number of the exuded red blood cells in the brain tissue around the caudate Nucleus region was fewer, the severity of the tissue edema, cell necrosis, and inflammatory cell infiltration lighter in the EA group. Compared with the model group, the severity of degeneration and necrosis of myocytes was lighter and the number of the broken cardiac smooth muscle fewer in the EA group. (2) The expression levels of both MC-SGC NET mRNA and myocardial beta1-AR mRNA were significantly lower in the model group than in the sham operation group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression levels of both MC-SGC NET mRNA and myocardial beta1-AR mRNA were upregulated considerably in the EA group (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: EA of GV 26-GV 16 and PC 6-BL 15 can upregulate the expression of both MC-SGC NET mRNA and myocardial beta1-AR mRNA in CCS rats which may contribute to its effect in the prevention and treatment of CCS syndrome.