Objective: To study the scientific basis of specific correlation between the meridian and the Zang- or Fu organ by using gene differential expression (gene-chip technique) in the rat.
Methods: Twenty-one SD rats were randomly and evenly divided into control group, sham-myocardial ischemia (MI) group, MI group, electroacupuncture (EA)-Heart-Meridian (HT) group, EA-Lung-Meridian (LU) group and EA-Small-Intestine-Meridian (SI) group. EA (frequency 2 Hz, stimulating strength 5 V, pulse duration 300 mus) was applied to "Shenmen" (HT 7)- "Tongli" (HT 5) (Heart Meridian), "Y anglao" (SI 6)- "Zhizheng" (SI 7) (Small Intestine Meridian), "Taiyuan" (LU 9)-"Lieque" (LU 7) (Lung Meridian) for 20 min, once daily and continuously for 3 days. Myocardial ischemia model was duplicated by occlusion of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery, and myocardial tissue of the left ventricle was taken 3 days after EA treatment for analyzing the differentially expressed genes in different groups with rat whole gene U 230 sequence chips (offered by Affymetrix Company).
Results: Compared with model group, among the differentially expressed genes being twofolds and above, the up-regulated and the down-regulated were 20 and 70 in EA-HT group, 18 and 26 in EA-SI group, and 14 and 20 in EA-LU group separately. Few same genes with the same differential expression were found among the 3 EA groups.
Conclusion: There is exactly a molecular basis in the correlation between Heart Meridian and the heart, and EA of Heart Meridian, Small Intestine Meridian and Lung Meridian have their own special signaling pathways.