ObjectiveTo observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)on blood pressure

renal fibrosis and expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1)

plasminogen activator inhibitor 1(PAI-1)

and alpha smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)in spontaneous hypertension rats(SHR)

so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improving hypertensive renal damage.MethodsForty male SHR(15 weeks in age)were randomly divided into 5 groups:model

medication(Losartan)

Shenshu

Geshu

and Shenshu+Geshu groups(n==8 rats in each group)

and the same age-old male 8 Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)rats were used as the normal control group. Rats of the medication group were treated by gavage of Losartan potassium solution(3 mg/mL

30 mg·kg

(-1)

·d(-1)·d

(-1)

once a day for 12 weeks)

and those of the3 EA groups treated by EA stimulation of bilateral"Shenshu"(BL23)

"Geshu"(BL17)or both BL23 and BL17(2 Hz/100 Hz

1 mA

15 min each time

once every other day for 12 weeks). The systolic blood pressure of the tail artery was measured before

and 4

8 and 12 weeks after the intervention. The expression of TIMP-1

PAI-1 and α-SMA proteins of the right kidney tissue was measured by immunohistochemistry. Histopathological changes of the right renal tissue were observed under light microscope after H. E. stain.ResultsThe blood pressure was significantly higher in the model group than those in the normal control group(P

<

0. 01)

and considerably decreased at the 4(-1)

once a day for 12 weeks)

and those of the3 EA groups treated by EA stimulation of bilateral"Shenshu"(BL23)

"Geshu"(BL17)or both BL23 and BL17(2 Hz/100 Hz

1 mA

15 min each time

once every other day for 12 weeks). The systolic blood pressure of the tail artery was measured before

and 4

8 and 12 weeks after the intervention. The expression of TIMP-1

PAI-1 and α-SMA proteins of the right kidney tissue was measured by immunohistochemistry. Histopathological changes of the right renal tissue were observed under light microscope after H. E. stain.ResultsThe blood pressure was significantly higher in the model group than those in the normal control group(P

<

0. 01)

and considerably decreased at the 4

(th)

8(th)

8

(th)

and 12(th)

and 12

(th)

week of the interventions in the medication and 3 EA groups(P

<

0. 01). The expression levels of renal TIMP-1

PAI-1 and α-SMA proteins were notably higher in the model group than those in the normal control group and considerably decreased at the 12(th) week of the interventions in the medication and 3 EA groups(P

<

0. 01). The expression levels of renal TIMP-1

PAI-1 and α-SMA proteins were notably higher in the model group than those in the normal control group and considerably decreased at the 12

(th)

week of the interventions in the medication and 3 EA groups than in the model group(P

<

0. 01). H. E. staining of the renal tissue showed disordered arrangement of the renal cells

congestion and dilation of capillaries with thickened vascular wall

renal tubule atrophy and lumen stenosis with some necrosis of renal tubules

protein tubule and cell tubules

increase of some glomerular mesangial matrix and hyperplasia of fibrous tissue in the model group

which was relatively milder in the medication and 3 EA groups.ConclusionEA of BL23 and BL17 can reduce the blood pressure in SHR

which may be related to its function in down-regulating expression of TIMP-1

PAI-1 and α-SMA proteins.