[Influence of acupoint-catgut-implantation on blood pressure and cardiac function in chronic congestive heart failure rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of acupoint-catgut-implantation on blood pressure and cardiac function in chronic heart failure (CHF) rats.

Methods: A total of 60 SD female rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group (sham), CHF model group, catgut-implantation group, Captopril group. CHF model was established by suprarenal abdominal artery constriction. Surgical catgut (No. 3-0, 2-3 mm length piece) was implanted into bilateral "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Xinshu" (BL 15) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) twice for 7 weeks. Rats of the Captopril group were treated with intragastric infusion of Captopril from the 50= day on after the operation, once daily for 7 weeks. Blood pressure (BP) including the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate (HR) and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were detected respectively by cardiac sonography.

Results: On the 14th week after modeling, in comparison with the sham group, the SBP, DBP, MBP and HR in rats of the model group were increased significantly (P<0. 01, P<0. 05), while LVEF of the model group was decreased considerably (P<0. 01). Compared with the model group, the SBP, DBP, MBP and HR after 7 weeks' treatment in rats of the catgut-implantation and Captopril groups were decreased considerably (P<0. 01), while the LVEF of the catgut-implantation group was increased evidently (P<0. 05). No significant differences were found between the catgut-implantation and Captopril groups in the SBP, DBP, MBP and HR levels, and between the model and Captopril groups in LVEF values (P>0. 05).

Conclusion: Acupoint-catgut-implantation can down-regulate BP and HR, and increase LVEF in chronic congestive heart failure rats, which may contribute to its effect in ameliorating the cardiac function.