Mechanisms of electroacupuncture reducing hypertension

Although acupuncture was effective in lowing blood pressure in hypertension, its mechanisms of action is not clear. Very recently a study in hypertension model showed that electroacupuncture-induced increase in mRNA level of preproenkephalin in the rostral ventrolateral medulla is closely associated with significantly decreased blood pressure. The report was published in journal of Scientific Reports.

Dr. M Li and colleagues in the USA investigated the mechanisms of action of electroacupuncture in lowing blood pressure in hypertension model. Electroacupuncture was applied at ST36-37 acupoints overlying the deep peroneal nerve for 30 min twice a week for five weeks. Elevated blood pressure was markedly reduced after six sessions of treatment and remained low 72 hrs after electroacupuncture compared with control groups. Biochemical studies found that mRNA level of preproenkephalin in the brain area called rostral ventrolateral medulla was significantly increased in those electroacupuncture-treated hypertension model. Further, microinjection of ICI 174,864, a δ-opioid receptor antagonist, into the rVLM of electroacupuncture-treated hypertension model partially reversed effect of electroacupuncture on increased blood pressure. This suggested that blood pressure lowing action of electroacupuncture was very closely linked to the elevated levels of preproenkephalin in the brain rostral ventrolateral medulla of hypertension model.

Reference

M Li et al., Repetitive Electroacupuncture Attenuates Cold-Induced Hypertension through Enkephalin in the Rostral Ventral Lateral Medulla. Scientific RepoRts| 6:35791 | DOI: 10.1038/srep35791.   http://www.nature.com/articles/srep35791