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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2025 , Vol. 45 >Issue 3: 586 - 596

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2025.03.013

Effect of electroacupuncture on hypertensive and sympathetic excitability mechanism mediated by the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in spontaneous hypertensive rats

  • Jiao SUN ,
  • Yueming WANG ,
  • Jian LYU ,
  • Xin LIU ,
  • Bingnan YUE ,
  • Yinyin LI ,
  • Jipeng LIU ,
  • Yize SUN ,
  • Qingguo LIU ,
  • Liu YAN
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  • 1 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao 266035, China
    2 School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
    3 Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Massage and Rehabilitation Center, Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated of Qingdao University (Qingdao Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Qingdao 266033, China

Received date: 2024-06-03

  Accepted date: 2024-09-27

  Online published: 2025-05-21

Supported by

Doctoral Research Fund Project of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao): Mechanistic Study on the Improvement of Vertigo Caused by Posterior Circulation Ischemia by Acupuncture through Regulating Cerebral Blood Flow in Rats with Posterior Circulation Ischemia Vertigo(QDKY2023BS19);National Natural Science Foundation of China: From Microrna 9 Regulate P2X7 Receptor of Microglia in Paraventricular Nucleus of Hypothalamus to Explore the Effect of Electroacupuncture on Sympathetic Nerve Excitability in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats(82074553)

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncture of sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure reduction in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs).
METHODS: A total of 64 male SHRs were divided into four groups: model, sham-operated (Sham), electro-acupuncture (EA), and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist and electroacupuncture (NRA + EA). In addition, 16 Wistar-Kyoto rats were used as controls. PVN stereotaxic surgery was performed in both the Sham and NRA + EA groups, while the EA and NRA + EA groups received 14 d of electroacupuncture. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured the day before the intervention and every other day. After 14 d of intervention, the rats in each group were tested for renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA). The associated factor levels were determined using Western blotting, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence assays.
RESULTS: In comparison to the model group, the EA and NRA + EA groups had significantly lower BP, HR, and RSNA (P < 0.01). The expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), angiotensin II (Ang II), angiotensin II type 1 (AT1), tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, norepinephrine and arginine vasopressin was significantly lower in the EA and NRA + EA groups (P < 0.01). Moreover, the antihypertensive effect of NRA+EA group outperformed to the EA group.
CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture effectively reduced the BP and sympathetic nerve excitability in SHRs. The mechanism was linked to the inhibition of NMDAR-mediated Ang II /AT1 and the inflammatory response in PVN.

Key words： electroacupuncture; hypertension; renal sympathetic nerve activity; paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus; receptors, N-methyl-D-aspartate

Cite this article

Jiao SUN , Yueming WANG , Jian LYU , Xin LIU , Bingnan YUE , Yinyin LI , Jipeng LIU , Yize SUN , Qingguo LIU , Liu YAN . Effect of electroacupuncture on hypertensive and sympathetic excitability mechanism mediated by the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in spontaneous hypertensive rats[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025 , 45(3) : 586 -596 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2025.03.013

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