AIM To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Neiguan Acupoint on simulated weightlessness induced cardiovascular oxidative stress.
METHODS Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: tail-suspension (SUS) group, SUS+EA group and control group. All the rats in the SUS group and SUS+EA group had their heads lowered to -30° for 7 days. The rats in the tail-suspension with electroacupuncture stimulation group also had to undergo electroacupuncture stimulation of Neiguanacupoint for 30 min every day, while the control group did not do any treatment. The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum, heart tissue, brain tissue, carotid artery and femoral artery were measured after 7 days in all the three groups.
RESULTS After tail-suspension, SOD content in serum and vascular tissue was significantly lower than that in control group, while MDA content was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). After electroacupuncture stimulation, the content of SOD and MDA in serum in SUS+EA group had no significant difference compared with those in control group.
CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture stimulation at Neiguan Acupoint in rats reduces cardiovascular and cerebrovascular oxidative stress induced by simulated weightlessness of tail suspension for 7 days.
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