Dr. Na Zhai Clinic Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

 

Acupuncture effect on Acute Myocardial ischemia

To accelerate my journey, I joined a research team at the Beijing Acupuncture Institute, led by Professor Wen Shen—one of the most renowned acupuncture researchers in China. At the time, the team was conducting a bold experiment: they completely severed the left ventricular branch of the coronary artery in rabbits to create a clearly defined ischemic area on the surface of the heart. Following the surgery, they first recorded the animals' physiological changes—comparing an acupuncture-treated group with a non-acupuncture control group. They then observed whether any viable circulation remained in the ischemic area and, finally, used histochemical analysis to determine whether acupuncture could effectively protect heart tissue from irreversible damage.

I thought to myself: no matter how powerful acupuncture might be, completely severing a major artery seemed like a dead end. After all, this is precisely what happens during a real-life heart attack. Yet at the same time, I felt a surge of excitement. This controlled experiment would objectively reveal the truth about acupuncture's effects—and I was grateful to have the opportunity to witness it firsthand.

In 1993, Professor Wen Shen published her findings in Chinese Acupuncture. She concluded: "Electroacupuncture at the Nei-guan acupoint exerts a protective effect on experimental animals subjected to ligation of the left coronary artery's ventricular branch for 30 minutes, positively influencing various physiological parameters—such as the electrocardiogram and myocardial contractility—as well as myocardial microcirculation, myocardial glycogen, phosphorylase, and succinate dehydrogenase."

At the time, I was a Master's student at Guiyang Medical University. My own research focused on the electron microscopic observation of cellular ultrastructure following acute ischemia and acupuncture intervention. In other words, as part of Professor Wen's broader study, I worked closely alongside her research team, collecting the same animal tissue samples—from the same locations and at the same time points—to examine them under an electron microscope. I believed that ultrastructural changes in cells are among the most sensitive and reliable indicators of early ischemic injury. The animal model and optical microscopy studies established by Professor Wen's team provided the essential foundation for the electron microscopy research I was about to undertake.

              Experimental results under optical microscope                   (Prof Wen and her team)

                        Myocardial glycogen is depleted in the ischemic zone.                                       Cross-sectional view of myocardium under a surgical microscope.

Microscopy images showing the depletion of myocardial glycogen in the ischemic zone (right) and the effects of electroacupuncture. The experiment demonstrates that electroacupuncture can effectively prevent the loss of myocardial energy reserves caused by acute ischemia.

Microscopic images show the depletion of myocardial 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the ischemic region (right side) and the effect of electroacupuncture. The experiment demonstrates that electroacupuncture can effectively prevent the loss of a portion of this enzyme.

Microscopy images showing the depletion of RNA in the ischemic myocardial zone (right) and the effects of electroacupuncture. The experiment demonstrates that electroacupuncture can effectively prevent the loss of RNA caused by acute ischemia.

Experiments observed synchronous ischemic depletion of myocardial glycogen （right) and myocardial RNA, as well as the protective effect of electroacupuncture.

Experimental results under electron microscope             (Master's thesis research）