Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)pretreatment on transient receptor potential vanilloid 1(TRPV1)/calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)signal and nuclear factor-κB p65(NF-κB p65) protein expression in myocardial tissue of acute myocardial ischemic injury(AMI) rats

and to investigate the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture pretreatment against AMI. Methods A total of 60 adult male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control

sham operation

model and EA pretreatment groups

15 rats in each group. The acute myocardial ischemia model was established by ligating the left anterior descending(LAD)branch of the coronary artery in the model group and EA pretreatment group

while threading but no ligating at left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery was applied in the sham operation group. In the EA pretreatment group

bilateral "Neiguan"(PC6) acupoints were selected

with intensity of 2 mA and frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz

for 20 min

once daily for 7 days before modeling. Electrocardiogram(ECG) was recorded by physiological signal acquisition system

and the ST segment potential offset values of standard Ⅱ lead were analyzed before surgery

30 min and 24 h after operation. The TTC staining was used to observe the percentage of myocardial infarction area. The HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of myocardial tissue and the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration. And Western blot was used to detect TRPV1/CGRP signal and NF-κB p65 protein expression levels in myocardial tissue. Results Compared with the sham operation group

the ECG-J point potential in the model group was significantly increased at 30 min and decreased at 24 h after operation(P<0.05)

myocardial infarction area increased significantly(P<0.05)

the myocardial fibers were obviously disordered

inflammatory cell infiltration was obvious

and the expressions of TRPV1

CGRP and NF-κB p65 proteins were all increased(P<0.05). Compared with the model group

the EA pretreatment group was decreased in the ECG-J point potential at 30 min after operation(P<0.05)

significantly reduced in myocardial infarction area(P<0.05)

improved in the morphology of myocardial fibers

reduced ininflammatory cell infiltration

and increased in the protein expressions of TRPV1 and CGRP in myocardium(P<0.05)

significantly decreased in the protein expression of NF-κB p65(P<0.05). Conclusion EA pretreatment may enhance TRPV1/CGRP signaling

down-regulate NF-κB p65 protein expression

reduce myocardial inflammatory response status

improve AMI injury

and reduce myocardial infarction area.