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. 2014:2014:926423.
doi: 10.1155/2014/926423. Epub 2014 Oct 13.

P6 Electroacupuncture Improved QTc Interval Prolongation by Upregulation of Connexin43 in Droperidol Treated Rats

Feng Zhao  1 , Suyang Cui  1 , Libing Huang  1
Affiliations

P6 Electroacupuncture Improved QTc Interval Prolongation by Upregulation of Connexin43 in Droperidol Treated Rats

Feng Zhao et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014.

Abstract

Aim. This study investigated the effect of P6 EA on droperidol-induced QTc interval prolongation and Cx43 expression in ventricular muscle of rats. Methods. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into control group (C), droperidol group (D), or EA group (E). C group rats were injected with normal saline. D group rats were injected with droperidol 0.13 mg/kg. E group rats were pretreated with EA at left P6 acupoint for 30 min and then injected with droperidol (0.13 mg/kg). QTc intervals were recorded at lead II in ECG within 120 min. Cx43 expression was measured by RT-PCR and western blotting. Result. Droperidol significantly prolonged QTc intervals compared with controls at 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, and 30 min (P < 0.05). P6 EA could significantly abbreviate the prolongation of QTc interval compared with droperidol group at 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, and 30 min (P < 0.05). Cx43 mRNA and proteins were significantly increased by P6 EA compared with droperidol group at 120 min (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in Cx43 mRNA and protein expression between droperidol and control group at 120 min (P > 0.05). Conclusion. P6 EA could improve QTc interval prolongation induced by droperidol, which may relate to upregulation of Cx43 mRNA and protein. Antiemetic dose of droperidol had minor effects on Cx43 mRNA and protein expression at 120 min.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of P6 EA on QTc prolongation induced by droperidol in rats. QTc intervals were analyzed in control (C), droperidol (D), and EA (E) groups at different time points. All values are expressed as mean ± SD; n = 8 for each group. # P < 0.05 versus droperidol group (D), *P < 0.05 versus control group (C).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of P6 EA on Cx43 mRNA expression in a rat model of droperidol-induced QTc prolongation. (a) Representative Cx43 mRNA of rat left ventricle tissues at 120 min after droperidol i.v. with the absence and presence of P6 EA before treatment. (b) Quantitative densitometric analysis of Cx43 mRNA with GADPH as an internal standard. All values are expressed as mean ± SD; # P < 0.05 versus droperidol group (D), *P > 0.05 versus control group (C). C: control group (n = 8); D: droperidol group (0.13 mg/kg, n = 8); and E: electroacupuncture on P6 + droperidol (n = 8).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of P6 EA on Cx43 protein expression in a rat model of droperidol-induced QTc prolongation. (a) Cx43 protein expression. Representative Cx43 protein of rat left ventricle tissues at 120 min after droperidol i.v. with the absence and presence of P6 EA before treatment. (b) Quantitative densitometric analysis of Cx43 protein with GADPH as an internal standard. All values are expressed as mean ± SD; # P < 0.05 versus droperidol group (D), *P > 0.05 versus control group (C). C: control group (n = 8); D: droperidol group (0.13 mg/kg, n = 8); and E: electroacupuncture on P6 + droperidol (n = 8).
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