| Purpose: This study is aim to investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture（EA） at different acupoints on the gene expressions of classical inward-rectifier potassium channels（Kir） in the myocardial cell of myocardial ischemia（MI） acid-sensing ion channel 3 gene knockouted(ASIC3-/-) mice. To explore the possible mechanisms of EA to improve MI on the level of ion channels by observing the protein changes of Kir2.1, Kir2.2 and Kir2.3 and prove the advantage of acupoint specific effects along meridian lines in the treatment of MI.Material and method: Selected specific pathogen-free（SPF） grade ASIC3-/- mice as our experience animals. According to random number table, the mice were selected randomly as the control group（n=6） in which each rat was given multiple subcutaneous injections of normal saline solution（20mg/kg） in the root of the limbs. And the remaining rats were injected with isoproterenol（ISO） in the same way and doses. All of the mice were injected twice by the corresponding reagent respectively after 24 h and then the electrocardiograms（ECGs） were recorded. After MI construction had been completed, the mice injected ISO were divided into five groups（n=6 per group）, including modeling group, Neiguan-point（PC6） group, Lieque-point（LU7） group, Zusanli-point（ST36） group and non-acupoint group. EA was operated at PC6, LU7, ST36 and non-acupoint respectively in the rats of PC6 group, LU7 group, ST36 group and non-acupoint group after twice injections. EA was performed to these four groups with disperse-dense wave（4-20Hz）, 2m A, 20 minutes a day remaining 7 days. The mice of control group and modeling group were given immobilization at the same time. Comparing all the groups’ ECG variation of ST segments before and after the treatment, observe the mice myocardial morphology change by HE staining, and the protein expressions of Kir2.1/Kir2.2/Kir2.3 were analyzed by Western Blot.Results: 1. After MI construction had been completed, the ST segments of modeling group were significantly increased 133.33±51.61% comparing with control group（P<0.05）. After treatment, comparing with modeling group, the ST segments of PC6 group, LU7 group andST36 group were obviously fell back 32.23±26.14%, 29.48±71.59% and 25.62±71.59% respectively（P<0.05）, furthermore the drop amplitude of PC6 group was the most obvious. Although the ST segment of non-acupoint group also decreased 0.55±7.95%, but there was no significance between non-acupoint group and modeling group（P>0.05）. 2. After twice injected with ISO, comparing with control group, the protein expressions of Kir2.1, Kir2.2 and Kir2.3 of the mice in modeling groups were decreased 65.95±25%, 62.57±2.33%, 63.11±16.67% respectively, and the changes had obvious statistical differences（P<0.05）. After EA for 7 days, the protein expressions of the three Kir subunits in each group had the same change trend. The protein expressions PC6 group, LU7 group and ST36 group were increased obviously compared with modeling group（P<0.05）, the protein expression variations in means of these three groups were 129.15±13.08%, 62.27±3.08% and 29.95±3.08% respectively. Among them, the protein expressions of PC6 group were higher than LU7 group and ST36 group（P<0.05）, and the protein expressions of LU7 were better than ST36 group（P<0.05）. Although the protein expressions of non-acupoint group were increased 3.69±23.85% compared with modeling group, but there was no significantly difference the two groups（P>0.05）. 3. After treatment, pathological examination showed that cardiac muscle fibers became denser and arranged irregularly, inflammatory cell infiltration in PC6 group, LU7 group and ST36 group were better than modeling group. Furthermore, the results in PC6 group were better than LU7 group and LU7 group were better than ST36.Conclusion: 1. EA at PC6, LU7 and ST36 can decreased the abnormal ST segment of ASIC3-/- mice with MI. The therapeutic effect of PC6 is better than LU7 and ST36; furthermore LU7 is better than ST36. 2. In the condition of MI, the protein expressions of Kir2.1, Kir2.2 and Kir2.3 in ASIC3-/-mice were decreased. EA at PC6, LU7 and ST36 can increase the expressions; furthermore PC6 has the best therapeutic effect among them. 3. EA, which can obviously improve the state of MI in mice, has certain relevance with increasing the protein expressions of Kir2.1, Kir2.2 and Kir2.3.4. PC6, LU7 and ST36 can improve the state of MI in ASIC3-/- mice, and PC6 has the best effect. It demonstrates that the specificity of PC6 along Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin has a therapeutic advantage in MI. |
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