Objective To explore the molecular mechanism of locus coeruleus(LC) involved in electroacupuncture(EA) anti myocardial ischemia. Methods Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation

model

EA and EA +lesion groups

with 6 rats in each group. The acute myocardial ischemia(AMI) model was established by ligation of the left anterior descending branch of coronary artery. EA(2 Hz/15 Hz

1 mA) was applied to bilateral “Shenmen”(HT7)-“Tongli”(HT5) and the middle-point between HT7 and HT5 for 30 min

once daily for 3 days. For rats of the EA +lesion group

the virus(300 nL) was injected into bilateral LC before EA treatment. Serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) was detected by ELISA. The gene expression profiles of rat heart were detected by transcriptome sequencing

the differentially expressed genes were screened

and Gene Ontology(GO) functional classification and Kyoto Encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) metabolic pathway enrichment analysis were performed. Results Compared with the sham-operation group

serum AST content was significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01). Following the intervention

serum AST was significantly reduced in the EA group(P<0.01)

while the serum AST in the EA + lesion group was significantly higher compared with the EA group(P<0.05). Differential expression analysis showed that 1 138 differentially expressed genes were screened out between the model group and the sham-operation group

1 330 differentially expressed genes between model and EA group

and 804 differentially expressed genes between EA and EA + lesion group. Among them

218 differential genes were involved in the regulation of EA anti-myocardial ischemia in LC. GO functional classification analysis showed that these differentially expressed genes mainly involved in cell processes

metabolic processes and biological regulation in biological processes. KEGG pathway analysis showed that these differentially expressed genes were enriched in sulfur relay system

thiamine metabolism

glutathione metabolism

C5 branch dicarboxylic acid metabolism

cell adhesion molecules and Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation. Conclusion EA intervention has a positive effect in anti-myocardial ischemia

which may be related to the sulfur relay system

thiamine metabolism

glutathione metabolism

C5 branch dicarboxylic acid metabolism

cell adhesion molecules and Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation involved in LC.