Objective: To compare the effects of electroacupuncture(EA) of "Neiguan" and other acupoints on Na+-K+-ATPase activity and its gene expression in ischemic myocrardial cell membrane in rats.Methods: A total of 50 Wistar rats were randomly divided into pseudo-operation(control)

model

Neiguan(PC 6)

Shenmen(HT 7) and Hegu(LI 4) groups

with 10 rats in each group.Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) model was duplicated by occlusion of the descending anterior branch of the left coronary artery and reperfusion.EA(30/100 Hz

2-4 mA) was applied to the above-mentioned acupoints for 20 min respectively.Na+-K+-ATPase activity was determined by inorganic phosphorus colorimetry

and Na+-K+-ATPase gene expression was detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) technique.Results: Compared with control group

the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in model

PC6

HT7 and LI4 groups decreased significantly after myocardial I/R(P<0.05

0.01);while in comparison with model

the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in PC6 group increased considerably(P<0.01).Regarding the expression of Na+-K+-ATPase mRNA

compared with control group

it was down-regulated significantly in model

HT7 and LI4 groups(P<0.01);while in PC6 group

Na+-K+-ATPase mRNA expression was up-regulated markedly compared with model group(P<0.05);The activity of Na+-K+-ATPase and the expression of Na+-K+-ATPase mRNA in HT7 and LI4 groups were significantly lower than those in PC6 group(P<0.01

0.05).No significant differences were found between HT7 and LI4 groups in the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase and the expression of Na+-K+-ATPase mRNA(P>0.05).Conclusion: EA of "Neiguan"(PC 6) may potentiate the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase and up-regulate Na+-K+-ATPase mRNA expression

which may contribute to its protective effect on ischemic cardiocytes.