[Adaptive stabilization of myocardium under the influence of electroacupuncture and cardiac protection]

Adaptation of animals to short-term stress is known to result in the development of the adaptive structure stabilization phenomenon. At the level of the heart, the phenomenon appears as increased resistance to elevated catecholamine and calcium levels, reperfusion paradox. This study attempted to reproduce the phenomenon without applying any stress, but using a course of transauricular electric acupuncture. The isolated hearts of rats undergoing a course of the acupuncture were ascertained to show a clear-cut high resistance to the reperfusion paradox. After coronary ligation, the extent of necrosis in the animals having the acupuncture was significantly lower, as in those adapted to stress. The assumption that the phenomenon forming the basis for cardioprotective effects develops with electric acupuncture is discussed in the paper.