In the present study

the mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA)at acupoints of the Pericardium Channel (PC) for improving experimental acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) were studied in rabbits

cats and rats

from the view of combination of physiological functions and anatomical structures and by using multiple indexes. Results demonstrated that: 1 ) EA of "Neiguan" (PC 6)

etc. and non-points of the PC was of favorable regulative action on the electrical and mechanical activities of the ischemic heart; the PC is a functional entirety in regulating physiological activity of the ischemic heart; the effect of acupoints of PC has a relative specificity to a certain degree; 2) EA could improve cardiac performance and myocardial energy metabolism

while its key action mainly lay in the improvement of the microcirculation of the ischemic myocardium; 3) the action of EA of PC acupoints in bettering AMI is closely associated with EA-induced inhibition on the hyperactivity of the periphery sympathy-adrenal gland-CA system

central adrenergic and noradrenergic systems during AMI

and also associated with EA-induced enhancement of functional activity of the adrenal cortex and increase in the organic antidisease ability. Therefore

the local actions of EA on ameliorating AMI

protecting myocardial cells from injury are definitely not separable from its regulative action on the functional activities of the whole body. This fact suggests that in treatment of coronary heart disease

both the performance of the cardiovascular system and the state of the whole body should be considered simultaneously.