Electroacupuncture on PC6 (Neiguan) attenuates ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat hearts

The use of somato-visceral regulation has been proposed as a treatment for a wide range of diseases. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that through somato-visceral regulation, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury to the myocardium can be avoided by electroacupuncture (EA) on PC6 (Neiguan). Electroacupuncture on PC6 (Neiguan) was brought about by the application of metal needles over the bilateral median nerve at a point 1.5 cm proximal to the palm crease in male Spraque-Dawley rats. The animals were randomized into two groups: (1) prevention group with preconditioning by the application of EA on PC6 (n = 13); and (2) treatment group with EA on PC6 during I/R injury (n = 10). The protection against myocardial injury was blocked by different mechanisms: (1) severing of the bilateral median nerve (n = 10), (2) bilateral vagotomy (n = 10), and (3) intravenous naloxone injection (n = 10). The hemodynamic parameters (mean artery pressure and heart rate), duration of arrhythmia, mortality rate and cardiac enzymes were evaluated in these groups. The results showed that there were significant reductions in cardiac enzymes, the duration of arrhythmia and mortality rate in rats that were either preconditioned or treated with EA on PC6, compared with those that did not undergo EA on PC6 (P < 0.05). The cardioprotective effects were blocked by different procedures (P > 0.05). We conclude that EA on bilateral PC6 (Neiguan) prevents and attenuates I/R injury to the heart, and that this approach may provide an applicable and preventative alternative for patients with ischemic heart disease.