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Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Acute Myocardial Ischemia: A Potential Role of the Locus Coeruleus
Xin Wu1, Kun Wang2, Shuai Cui3,4
1Graduate School, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
Insights
Electroacupuncture alleviates acute myocardial ischemia by modulating the locus coeruleus. This involves regulating neurotransmitters and inflammatory factors, improving cardiac function in rats.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Neuroscience
- Integrative Medicine
Background:
- The locus coeruleus (LC) is implicated in cardiovascular diseases.
- The role of the LC in mediating electroacupuncture's (EA) therapeutic effects on acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the locus coeruleus mediates the beneficial effects of electroacupuncture on acute myocardial ischemia.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms involving neurotransmitter and inflammatory factor regulation.
Main Methods:
- Established a rat model of acute myocardial ischemia via coronary artery ligation.
- Utilized multichannel in vivo recording to monitor LC neuron activity.
- Assessed central and myocardial neurotransmitter levels (norepinephrine, dopamine), serum inflammatory factors (hs-CRP, IL-10), and cardiac function.
- Examined the effects of LC lesioning on EA's efficacy.
Main Results:
- AMI induced increased LC activity, elevated central norepinephrine, and decreased dopamine.
- Serum levels of hs-CRP increased, while IL-10 decreased post-AMI.
- EA reversed these changes, and LC lesioning altered neurotransmitter levels and diminished EA's protective effects.
- EA treatment inhibited LC neuron activity, reducing hs-CRP and increasing IL-10 release.
Conclusions:
- The locus coeruleus plays a critical role in the anti-myocardial ischemic effects of electroacupuncture.
- EA exerts its cardioprotective effects by modulating LC activity, influencing neurotransmitter balance and inflammatory responses.
- EA may improve cardiac function through LC-mediated regulation of norepinephrine and dopamine in myocardial tissue.
Abstract:
The locus coeruleus (LC) is closely linked with cardiovascular disease. However, whether it mediates the alleviating effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) remains unclear. A rat model of myocardial ischemia was established through occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Multichannel in vivo recording and other techniques were used to assess neurons in the LC, norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) levels in central and myocardial tissue, serum levels of inflammatory factors, and cardiac function. After induction of AMI, LC neuron activity increased and the central NE concentrations increased, while those of DA decreased. Moreover, the serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) increased, whereas those of interleukin-10 (IL-10) decreased. However, these effects were reversed by EA. Additionally, LC lesioning affected NE and DA levels in myocardial tissue and weakened the antimyocardial ischemic effect of EA. Collectively, our results indicated that LC is closely related to AMI and plays an important role in the antimyocardial ischemic effect of EA. This mechanism may be related to inhibition of LC neuron activity by EA, which inhibits the release of large amounts of hs-CRP and promotes that of IL-10 in the serum. Besides, after LC lesioning, EA may improve cardiac function by inhibiting the release of large amounts of NE and promoting the release of DA in myocardial tissue.
