Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on the expression of myocardial protein kinase B(Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) in acute myocardial ischemia(AMI) rats. Methods Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into control

model and EA groups(n=10 in each group). The AMI model was established by occlusion of the descending anterior branch(DAB) of the left coronary artery. EA(2 Hz

1—2 mA) was applied to bilateral “Shenmen”(HT7) and “Tongli”(HT5) for 20 min

once daily for consecutive 7 days. The electrocardiogram(ECG) of nape-xiphoid lead was recorded for assessing changes of myocardial ischemia. Histopathologic changes of the ischemic myocardial tissue were observed after H.E. staining and ultra-microstructural changes of cardiomyocytes observed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The expression levels of Akt

phosphorylated-Akt(p-Akt)

mTOR and phosphorylated-mTOR(p-mTOR) in the myocardium were detected by Western blot

followed by calculating the ratios of p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR. Results Following ligature of DAB

the ECG-ST level was significantly increased in the model group in comparison with the control group(P<0.01). At 30 min after treatment

the ECG-ST level decreased significantly compared with the model group(P<0.01). At the end of the 7-day treatment period

the ECG-ST level increased compared with the model group(P<0.05). The levels of myocardial p-Akt and p-mTOR protein expression

and the ratios of p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR were significantly lower in the model group than those in the control group(P<0.01)

and considerably increased in the EA group than in the model group(P<0.01). No significant differences were found among the three groups in the expression levels of Akt and mTOR proteins(P>0.05). Outcomes of H.E. staining and TEM showed damage of mitochondria and occurrence of a large number of autophagosomes in myocardiocytes in the model group

which was milder in the EA group. Conclusion EA at HT5 and HT7 can improve AMI in AMI rats

which may be related to its effect in facilitating Akt/mTOR signaling.