[Potential Mechanisms Underlying Acupuncture Regulation on Hypertensive Myocardial Hypertrophy and Cardiac Function Damage].

Long-lasting hypertension results in ventricular remodeling characteristic of myocardial hypertrophy including myocyte hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis, a pathological process failed to be blocked by the current biomedical means and could eventually lead to heart failure. It has been shown that acupuncture can excite the parasympathetic nerve to counter the overtonic activity of sympathetic nerve, elicit antihypertensive effect and produce cardioprotection via the regulation of calcium signaling-related proteins in myocytes, suggesting its potential role in the management of these disorders. In this paper, the authors review relevant studies and propose, with respect to the autonomic nerve, endocrine system, cytokines and intracellular calcium signaling pathways, several novel ideas concerning the treatment of hypertensive myocardial hypertrophy and cardiac malfunction by acupuncture.