Influence of Acupuncture on Microcirculation Perfusion of Pericardium Meridian and Heart in Acute Myocardial Ischemia Model Rats
Zhuang Y, Zhou J, Zhou Y, Chen J, Wu P, Lyu P, Wan M, Luo L, Cai D, Liang F · Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine · 2021 November 24
DOI 10.1007/s11655-021-3294-9
Objective
To investigate the influence of acupuncture at different acupoints on microcirculation perfusion of the pericardium meridian and heart in rats with acute myocardial ischemia and assess whether acupuncture simultaneously affects meridians and their corresponding viscera.
Conclusions
Acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) obviously increased pericardium meridian and heart microcirculation perfusion in rats with acute myocardial ischemia, with effects superior to those at Lieque (LU 7) and Qiansanli (LI 10), supporting acupoint specificity and a meridian-propagated effect.
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Insights
Acupuncture at the Neiguan point improved blood flow in both the heart and its related meridian during acute cardiac ischemia more than comparison points.
Researchers induced acute myocardial ischemia in rats by surgically blocking a coronary artery, with a separate sham-operated group receiving surgery without blockage. Rats then received manual acupuncture at Neiguan, Lieque, or Qiansanli points, while laser speckle imaging continuously measured microcirculatory blood perfusion in the heart and along the pericardium meridian before, during, and after treatment.
Acupuncture at Neiguan increased microcirculatory perfusion in both the heart and pericardium meridian during stimulation, whereas acupuncture at Lieque and Qiansanli produced less consistent or more limited changes. Blood flow declined after acupuncture ended, suggesting that the observed benefit was most apparent during active stimulation and supporting point-specific effects linked to the pericardium meridian.
