Transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation as a countermeasure against cardiovascular deconditioning during 4 days of head-down bed rest in humans

Jing Sun, Xiaotao Li, Changbin Yang, Yongchun Wang, Fei Shi, Yuan Gao, Qi Luan, Yongsheng Zhu, Xiqing Sun, Jing Sun, Xiaotao Li, Changbin Yang, Yongchun Wang, Fei Shi, Yuan Gao, Qi Luan, Yongsheng Zhu, Xiqing Sun

Abstract

Objective: Spaceflight is associated with cardiovascular deregulation. However, the influence of microgravity on the cardiovascular system and its mechanisms and countermeasures remain unknown. Our previous studies have demonstrated that transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation (TEAS) is effective in improving orthostatic tolerance (OT). The purpose of this study was to determine if TEAS treatment can attenuate cardiovascular deconditioning induced by a 4-day -6° head-down bed rest (HDBR).

Methods: Fourteen healthy male subjects were randomly allocated to a control group (control, n=6, 4 days HDBR without countermeasures) and a TEAS treatment group (TEAS, n=8, 4 days HDBR with TEAS at Neiguan (PC6) for 30 min each day for 4 consecutive days during HDBR). OT, plasma hormones, plasma volume and heart rate variability were assessed before and after HDBR. Cardiac function and cerebral blood flow were measured before, during and after HDBR.

Results: The data showed that TEAS treatment mitigated the decrease in OT that was observed in the control group and cardiac function, alleviated autonomic dysfunction, and partially prevented plasma volume reduction after HDBR. Angiotensin II and aldosterone were significantly increased by 129.3% and 133.3% after HDBR in the TEAS group (p<0.05).

Conclusions: These results indicate that 30 min of daily TEAS treatment at PC6 is partially effective in maintaining OT, probably due to increased plasma volume-regulating hormones and activation of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system. TEAS treatment appears effective at reducing cardiovascular deconditioning induced by HDBR for 4 days.

Trial registration number: NCT02300207.

Keywords: ACUPUNCTURE.

Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Orthostatic tolerance values before and after bed rest in the control (Con) and transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation (TEAS) groups. *p#p<0.05, versus the Con group. Con group, without any countermeasures; TEAS group, received 30 min of TEAS treatment each day.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cardiac systolic function before, during and after 4 days of head-down bed rest (HDBR) in the control (Con) and transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation (TEAS) groups. Mean values of (A) PEP, (B) LVET, (C) PEP/LVET ratio, and (D) EF before, during and after a 4-day HDBR in both the Con and TEAS groups. EF, ejection fraction; LVET, left ventricular ejection time; PEP, pre-ejection period. *p

Figure 3

Changes in R–R interval variability…

Figure 3

Changes in R–R interval variability before and after bed rest in the control…

Figure 3
Changes in R–R interval variability before and after bed rest in the control (Con) and transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation (TEAS) groups. (A) Normalised high frequency power of the R–R interval (high frequency (HFn)). (B) Normalised low frequency power of the R–R interval (low frequency (LFn)). (C) Ratio of low to high frequency power of the R–R interval (LFn/HFn). *p#p<0.05, versus the Con group.

Figure 4

Changes in plasma Ald, Ang…

Figure 4

Changes in plasma Ald, Ang II and ANP concentrations before and after 4-day…

Figure 4
Changes in plasma Ald, Ang II and ANP concentrations before and after 4-day head-down bed rest (HDBR) in both the control (Con) and transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation (TEAS) groups. (A) Changes in plasma Ang II concentrations before and after a 4-day HDBR. (B) Changes in plasma Ald concentrations before and after a 4-day HDBR. (C) Changes in plasma ANP concentrations before and after a 4-day HDBR. *p#p<0.05, versus the Con group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Changes in R–R interval variability before and after bed rest in the control (Con) and transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation (TEAS) groups. (A) Normalised high frequency power of the R–R interval (high frequency (HFn)). (B) Normalised low frequency power of the R–R interval (low frequency (LFn)). (C) Ratio of low to high frequency power of the R–R interval (LFn/HFn). *p#p<0.05, versus the Con group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Changes in plasma Ald, Ang II and ANP concentrations before and after 4-day head-down bed rest (HDBR) in both the control (Con) and transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation (TEAS) groups. (A) Changes in plasma Ang II concentrations before and after a 4-day HDBR. (B) Changes in plasma Ald concentrations before and after a 4-day HDBR. (C) Changes in plasma ANP concentrations before and after a 4-day HDBR. *p#p<0.05, versus the Con group.

References

    1. Platts SH, Martin DS, Stenger MB, et al. . Cardiovascular adaptations to long-duration head-down bed rest. Aviat Space Environ Med 2009;80:A29–36. 10.3357/ASEM.BR03.2009
    1. Hargens AR, Bhattacharya R, Schneider SM. Space physiology VI: exercise, artificial gravity, and countermeasure development for prolonged space flight. Eur J Appl Physiol 2013;113:2183–92. 10.1007/s00421-012-2523-5
    1. Clement G, Pavy-Le TA. Centrifugation as a countermeasure during actual and simulated microgravity: a review. Eur J Appl Physiol 2004;92:235–48. 10.1007/s00421-004-1118-1
    1. Syuu Y, Matsubara H, Hosogi S, et al. . Pressor effect of electroacupuncture on hemorrhagic hypotension. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2003;285:R1446–52. 10.1152/ajpregu.00243.2003
    1. Li Z, Wang C, Mak AF, et al. . Effects of acupuncture on heart rate variability in normal subjects under fatigue and non-fatigue state. Eur J Appl Physiol 2005;94:633–40. 10.1007/s00421-005-1362-z
    1. Syuu Y, Matsubara H, Kiyooka T, et al. . Cardiovascular beneficial effects of electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC-6) acupoint in anesthetized open-chest dog. Jpn J Physiol 2001;51:231–8. 10.2170/jjphysiol.51.231
    1. Yin S, Cao Y, Zhang J. Treatment of primary hypotension by electroacupuncture at Neiguan and Gongsun—a report of 100 cases. J Tradit Chin Med 2004;24:193.
    1. Sun J, Sang H, Yang C, et al. . Electroacupuncture improves orthostatic tolerance in healthy individuals via improving cardiac function and activating the sympathetic system. Europace 2013;15:127–34. 10.1093/europace/eus220
    1. Van Beaumont W. Evaluation of hemoconcentration from hematocrit measurements. J Appl Physiol 1972;32:712–13.
    1. Hargens AR, Richardson S. Cardiovascular adaptations, fluid shifts, and countermeasures related to space flight. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2009;169(Suppl 1):S30–3. 10.1016/j.resp.2009.07.005
    1. Yang CB, Wang YC, Gao Y, et al. . Artificial gravity with ergometric exercise preserves the cardiac, but not cerebrovascular, functions during 4 days of head-down bed rest. Cytokine 2011;56:648–55. 10.1016/j.cyto.2011.09.004
    1. Longhurst JC. Electroacupuncture treatment of arrhythmias in myocardial ischemia. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2007;292:H2032–4. 10.1152/ajpheart.00071.2007
    1. Yang L, Yang J, Wang Q, et al. . Cardioprotective effects of electroacupuncture pretreatment on patients undergoing heart valve replacement surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Thorac Surg 2010;89:781–6. 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2009.12.003
    1. Hirayanagi K, Iwase S, Kamiya A, et al. . Functional changes in autonomic nervous system and baroreceptor reflex induced by 14 days of 6 degrees head-down bed rest. Eur J Appl Physiol 2004;92:160–7. 10.1007/s00421-004-1067-8
    1. Li P, Ayannusi O, Reid C, et al. . Inhibitory effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the pressor response induced by exercise stress. Clin Auton Res 2004;14:182–8.
    1. Iwasaki K, Levine BD, Zhang R, et al. . Human cerebral autoregulation before, during and after spaceflight. J Physiol 2007;579:799–810. 10.1113/jphysiol.2006.119636
    1. Levine BD, Pawelczyk JA, Ertl AC, et al. . Human muscle sympathetic neural and haemodynamic responses to tilt following spaceflight. J Physiol 2002;538:331–40. 10.1113/jphysiol.2001.012575
    1. Grenon SM, Hurwitz S, Xiao X, et al. . Readaptation from simulated microgravity as a stimulus for improved orthostatic tolerance: role of the renal, cardioendocrine, and cardiovascular systems. J Investig Med 2005;53:82–91.
    1. Iwasaki K, Shiozawa T, Kamiya A, et al. . Hypergravity exercise against bed rest induced changes in cardiac autonomic control. Eur J Appl Physiol 2005;94:285–91. 10.1007/s00421-004-1308-x

Source: PubMed

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

3
Subscribe