ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the protective mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Neiguan" (PC 6) on ischemic myocardial injury, and to explain the response patterns and characteristics of the specific effect of acupoints along meridians in sodium channel in the level of cardiac organ.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 60 SPF male rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a non-acupoint group, a Neiguan group and a Lieque group, 12 cases in each one. Except the blank group, rats in the remaining group were treated with subcutaneous injection of isoprenaline to establish the model of myocardial ischemia. Rats in the Neiguan group, Lieque group and non- acupoint group were treated with EA, dilatational wave, with a frequency of 2 Hz/20 Hz. The intensity was 2-3 mA. The needles were retained for 20 min per time, once a day for consecutive 7 days. In the blank group and control group, the rats were grasped and fixed at the treating time each day. The western-blot method was used to test the expression of voltage-gated sodium channel alpha subunit (Nav 1.5), protein tyrosine kinase (PTKs) and protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPs).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of Nav 1.5 and PTKs in the model group was lower than that in the blank group (both P<0. 01); the expression in the Neiguan group and Lieque group was higher than that in the model group (all P < 0.01); the expression of Nav 1.5 and PTKs in the Neiguan group was higher than that in the Lieque group (both P < 0.01). The expression of PTPs in the model group and non-acupoint group was higher than that in the blank group (both P < 0.01); the expression of PTPs in the Neiguan group and Lieque group was significantly down-regulated, which was lower than the model group (both P < 0.01); the down-regulation in the Neiguan group was significantly different from that in the Lieque group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA at "Neiguan" (PC 6), by down-regulating the expression of PTPs, up-regulating the expression of Nav 1.5 and PTKs, is likely to achieve the aim of regulation on sodium channel activity and calcium overload, further to improve myocardial ischemia, which provides experimental basis for the theory of the specific effect of acupoints along meridians.</p>