OBJECTIVE:

To observe the changes of cardiac function of spleen-deficiency syndrome after joint administration of acupuncture and medication.

METHODS:

A total of 48 Wistar rats were randomized into normal control, model, medication (American ginseng, AG) and acupuncture + AG groups. Spleen-deficiency syndrome model was established by monophagia method. Rats of medication group were fed with AG decoction (1 ml/100 g), once daily for 10 days. Acupuncture stimulation (uniform reinforcing and reducing method) was applied to bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) for 1 min (with the needles retained for 20 min), once daily for 10 days. Then, all the rats anesthetized underwent right common carotid artery-left-cardiac catheter and right femoral arterial catheter surgery to accept detection of the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), left ventricular pressure (LVP), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and cardiac output (CO).

RESULTS:

Compared with normal control group, the levels of SBP, DBP, HR and CO of model group were significantly lower (P < 0.05). In comparison with model group, SBP, DBP, HR and CO of medication and acupuncture + AG groups were markedly higher (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between medication and acupuncture + AG groups in SBP, DBP, HR, LVEDP, LVP and CO levels (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Administration of both acupuncture + AG and AG can effectively improve spleen-deficiency syndrome rats' cardiac function.