Objective To observe the effect of acupoint-catgut-implantation on blood pressure and cardiac function in chronic heart failure(CHF) rats.Methods A total of 60 SD female rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group(sham)

CHF model group

catgut-implantation group

Captopril group.CHF model was established by suprarenal abdominal artery constriction.Surgical catgut(No.3-0

2-3 mm length piece) was implanted into bilateral "Neiguan"(PC 6)

"Xinshu"(BL 15) and "Zusanli"(ST 36) twice for 7 weeks.Rats of the Captopril group were treated with intragastric infusion of Captopril from the 50th day on after the operation

once daily for 7 weeks.Blood pressure(BP) including the systolic blood pressure(SBP)

dia-stolic blood pressure(DBP) and mean blood pressure(MBP)

heart rate(HR) and the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) were detected respectively by cardiac sonography.Results On the 14th week after modeling

in comparison with the sham group

the SBP

DBP

MBP and HR in rats of the model group were increased significantly(P<0.01

P<0.05)

while LVEF of the model group was decreased considerably(P<0.01).Compared with the model group

the SBP

DBP

MBP and HR after 7 weeks' treatment in rats of the catgut-implantation and Captopril groups were decreased considerably(P<0.01)

while the LVEF of the catgut-implantation group was increased evidently(P<0.05).No significant differences were found between the catgut-implantation and Captopril groups in the SBP

DBP

MBP and HR levels

and between the model and Captopril groups in LVEF values(P>0.05).Conclusion Acupoint-catgut-implantation can down-regulate BP and HR

and increase LVEF in chronic congestive heart failure rats

which may contribute to its effect in ameliorating the cardiac function.