Objective: To explore the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) of acupoints of the Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin on intracellular calcium overload in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion(IR) injury rats.Methods: Forty Wistar rats were evenly randomized into control

model

EA-"Neiguan"(PC 6)

EA-"Ximen"(PC 5) and EA-"Zhigou"(TE 6) groups.Myocardial IR model was established by occlusion of the left descending anterior branch of the coronary artery for 40 min

followed by reperfusion for 60 min.EA(frequency 30-100 Hz

strength 20-22 V

dense-sparse waves) was applied to the abovementioned acupoints for 20 min.Then

myocardial tissue sample(below the ligation site) of the left cardiac ventricle was taken to be processed into cell suspension

followed by adding fluorescence indicator dye(Fluo-3/AM

for labeling Ca

(2+)

) and assaying the concentration of calcium ions in the myocardial cells by using laser scanning confocal microscope.Results: The fluorescence intensity of the labeled intracellular Ca(2+)) and assaying the concentration of calcium ions in the myocardial cells by using laser scanning confocal microscope.Results: The fluorescence intensity of the labeled intracellular Ca

(2+)

in control

model

EA-PC-6

EA-PC-5 and EA-TE-6 groups were 67±17

105±32

70±14

73±29 and 99±15 respectively

showing that after myocardial IR

intracellular Ca(2+) in control

model

EA-PC-6

EA-PC-5 and EA-TE-6 groups were 67±17

105±32

70±14

73±29 and 99±15 respectively

showing that after myocardial IR

intracellular Ca

(2+)

concentration increased significantly

after EA of "Neiguan"(PC 6) and "Ximen"(PC 5) of the Pericardium Meridian

it lowered obviously(P

<

0.05

0.01).No significant differences were found between EA-PC-5 and EA-PC-6 groups

and between EA-TE-6 and model groups(P

>

0.05).Conclusion: EA stimulation of acupoints of the Pericardium Meridian can effectively inhibit intracellular Ca(2+) concentration increased significantly

after EA of "Neiguan"(PC 6) and "Ximen"(PC 5) of the Pericardium Meridian

it lowered obviously(P

<

0.05

0.01).No significant differences were found between EA-PC-5 and EA-PC-6 groups

and between EA-TE-6 and model groups(P

>

0.05).Conclusion: EA stimulation of acupoints of the Pericardium Meridian can effectively inhibit intracellular Ca

(2+)

overload caused by myocardial IR injury

which may contribute to the effect of acupuncture in reducing myocardial injury and protecting myocardial performance.