[Influence of electroacupuncture of "Daling"(PC 7) on heart rate, duration of arrhythmia and plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide contents in ventricular tachycardia rats].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on heart rate (HR), arrhythmia duration, and plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) level in ventricular tachycardia (VT) rats so as to study its underlying adjustment mechanism. METHODS: A total of 70 SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, model (VT), "Daling" (PC 7, EA-PC 7) and "Taiyuan" (LU 9, EA-LU 9) groups. VT model was duplicated by injection of CsCI (2 mol/L, 1.6 mmoL/kg, femoral vein). EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to "Daling" (PC 7) and "Taiyuan" (LU 9) for 5 min after inserting acupuncture needles. BL-410 Biofunctional System was used to record the ECG of the standard limb lead II, and plasma VIP content assayed by using radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Following intravenous injection of CsCI, HR increased significantly in model, EA-PC 7 and EA-LU 9 groups (P < 0.05). Compared to model group, HR at 5 min, 10 min and 15 min after administration of CsCI and the duration of arrhythmia in EA-PC 7 group decreased considerably (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found between EA-LU 9 and model groups in HR and the duration of arrhythmia (P > 0.05). Compared with normal group, the content of plasma VIP in model group decreased apparently (P < 0.05), while in comparison with model group, plasma VIP level in EA-PC 7 group increased considerably (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture of "Daling" (PC7) can effectively suppress CsCI-induced tachycardia which may be closely associated with its effect in reducing plasma VIP level.