Abstract: OBJECTIVE:To explore electro-acupuncture's(EA's)effect on gene expression in heart of rats with stress-induced pre-hypertension and try to reveal its biological mechanism based on gene chip technology.METHODS:Twenty-seven Wistar male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups.The stress-induced hypertensive rat model was prepared by electric foot-shocks combined with generated noise.Molding cycle lasted for 14 days and EA intervene was applied on rats in model + EA group during model preparation.Rat Gene 2.0 Sense Target Array technology was used for the determination of gene expression profiles and the screened key genes were verified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) method.RESULTS:Compared with blank control group,390 genes were changed in model group;compared with model control group,330 genes were changed in model + EA group.Significance analysis of gene function showed that the differentially expressed genes are those involved in biological process,molecular function and cellular components.RT-PCR result of the screened key genes is consistent with that of gene chip test.CONCLUTION:EA could significantly lower blood pressure of stress-induced pre-hypertension rats and affect its gene expression profile in heart.Genes that related to the contraction of vascular smooth muscle may be involved in EA's anti-hypertensive mechanism.

Key words: Stress, Prehypertension, Electroacupuncture, Gene expression profiling, Heart