Original Article

Effect of Geumgoeshingi-Whan Pharmacopuncture on the Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Meesun Lee, Sangmi Lee, Hohyn Jeong, Manyong Park, Dong-woung Kim, Bong-keun Song, Jong-Deok Lee, Ho Sub Lee, Sungchul Kim,

Keywords: Geumgoeshingi-whan, Pharmacopuncture, SHR, hypertension, ANP, Renal function
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2013.16.006
Objective:

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect and the mechanism of Geumgoeshingi-whan (GGSGW) Pharmacopuncture at the acupoint GV 4 on the blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Methods:

SHR were injected with normal saline solution (Control-SHR group)or GGSGW Pharmacopuncture (GGSGW-SHR group) at the acupoint GV 4. The systolic arterial blood pressure and renal parameters were measured for two weeks.

Results:

The systolic arterial blood pressure was decreased significantly after GGSGW Pharmacopuncture at the acupoint GV 4 in SHR, followed by a significant rise in creatine clearance. The plasma levels of aldosterone were decreased significantly after GGSGW Pharmacopunctureas were the plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP).

Conclusion:

These results suggest that the blood pressure was decreased significantly after GGSGW Pharmacopuncture at the acupoint GV 4 in SHR and that the depressor response of the blood pressure was related to decreases in the plasma levels of aldosterone and ANP.