Inhibitory effect of analogous electro-acupuncture on experimental arrhythmia

From Acupuncture to Interaction between δ-Opioid Receptors and Na (+) Channels: A Potential Pathway to Inhibit Epileptic Hyperexcitability

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders affecting about 1% of population. Although the precise mechanism of its pathophysiological changes in the brain is unknown, epilepsy has been recognized as a disorder of brain excitability characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures that result from the abnormal, excessive, and synchronous activity of clusters of nerve cells in the brain. Currently available therapies, including medical, surgical, and other strategies, such as ketogenic diet and vagus nerve stimulation, are symptomatic with their own limitations and complications. Seeking new strategies to cure this serious disorder still poses a big challenge to the field of medicine. Our recent studies suggest that acupuncture may exert its antiepileptic effects by normalizing the disrupted neuronal and network excitability through several mechanisms, including lowering the overexcited neuronal activity, enhancing the inhibitory system, and attenuating the excitatory system in the brain via regulation of the interaction between δ -opioid receptors (DOR) and Na(+) channels. This paper reviews the progress in this field and summarizes new knowledge based on our work and those of others.

Electroacupuncture decreases the susceptibility to ventricular tachycardia in conscious rats by reducing cardiac metabolic demand

Reperfusion after a brief period of cardiac ischemia can lead to potentially lethal arrhythmias. Clinical observations and experimental work with animals suggest that acupuncture may have therapeutic effects for individuals with coronary heart disease, certain arrhythmias, and myocardial ischemia. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that electroacupuncture reduces the susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion-mediated ventricular tachyarrhythmias. To test this hypothesis, we measured the susceptibility to ventricular tachyarrhythmias produced by 3 min of occlusion and reperfusion of the left main coronary artery in conscious rats under two experimental conditions: 1) control and 2) with electroacupuncture. Acupuncture was simulated by electrically stimulating the median nerves, corresponding to the Jianshi-Neiguan [pericardial meridian (P) 5-6] acupoints. Results document a significantly lower incidence of ventricular tachyarrhythmias with electroacupuncture (2 of 8, 25%) relative to control (14 of 14, 100%) rats. The decreased susceptibility to tachyarrhythmias with electroacupuncture was associated with a reduced cardiac metabolic demand (lower rate-pressure product and ST-segment elevation) during ischemia.

Cell membrane activities and regeneration mechanisms as therapy mediators in moxibustion and acupuncture treatments: theoretical considerations

Needling by acupuncture or heating by moxibustion, the major Chinese medicine modalities, include tissue destruction or increased permeability of cell membrane. Both action potential activities and the release of cellular metabolites responsible for regeneration occurs. These phenomena are eventually abolished by local and systemic inhibitory elements being metabolites or neurogenic. The inhibitory effect induced by the acupuncture and moxibustion and directed to the manipulation site of these modalities may affect other anatomical sites and reduce or prevent neoplastic growth and neuromuscular or cardiac membrane activity disturbances.