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Background  Hypertension can be treated effectively by acupuncture; however, the association between acupuncture and endothelial function remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture on endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress-related parameters in spontaneously hypertensive animals.    Methods  Eighteen-week-old Wistar–Kyoto rats (WKYs) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were arbitrarily divided into four groups: WKY control (n = 8), SHR control (n = 8), SHR sham-acupuncture (n = 8) and SHR acupuncture (n = 8). The SHR acupuncture group had electroacupuncture for 6 consecutive weeks on acupoints ST36 and LR3. Blood pressure was monitored during the treatment period, and animals were euthanized at the 6th week. Aortas were harvested for determination of angiotensin II levels, NADPH oxidase activity and nitrate/nitrite levels. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined by dihydroethidium (DHE) imaging, and functional studies were performed to assess vascular reactivity. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase was measured by Western blot assay.    Results  Blood pressure at the end of treatment was significantly lower in the SHR acupuncture group (185.0 ± 5.6 mmHg) compared with the SHR sham-acupuncture and the SHR control groups (201.0 ± 5.4 and 197.4 ± 5.9 mmHg, respectively;  P  < 0.001). Serum angiotensin II level in the SHR control group was significantly higher than in the WKY control group ( P  < 0.001), while it was significantly attenuated by acupuncture treatment ( P  = 0.023). DHE staining showed that ROS level was reduced in the aortas ( P  = 0.0017) and carotid arteries ( P  = 0.039) of acupuncture-treated SHRs. Biochemical assays showed that acupuncture inhibited the NADPH oxidase activity ( P  = 0.022) and enhanced antioxidant capacity ( P  = 0.0039). In functional studies, endothelium-dependent relaxation of aortic rings ( P  = 0.018) and carotid arteries ( P  = 0.022) in response to acetylcholine was improved in the SHR acupuncture group. Aortas of SHRs receiving acupuncture also expressed an elevated level of eNOS ( P  > 0.001) and p-eNOS ( P  = 0.012) and a reduced nitrotyrosine level ( P  = 0.0012). The nitrate/nitrite level in aortic tissue was also attenuated after acupuncture ( P  = 0.0018).    Conclusion  The effects of acupuncture in treating hypertension were associated with reduced oxidative stress, increased nitric oxide bioavailability and endothelial function in SHRs.    Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13020-016-0110-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

chinese medicine

Attenuation of blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats by acupuncture was associated with reduction oxidative stress and improvement from endothelial dysfunction