الفهرس 
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Abstract
The aim of the present work was to study the effects of acupuncture on cardiovascular performance and DNA changes in hypertensive rats. 40 white male albino rats were used in this study. Rats were classified into the following groups: White male albino rats will be used in this investigation. Rats will be classified into the following groups: (I) Normotensive Group. (II) Hypertensive non-treated group. (III) Hypertensive acupuncture treated group. (VI) Hypertensive ACE-I treated group. (V) Hypertensive combined acupuncture and ACE-I treated group. In all of the previously mentioned groups the following parameters will be done: i. Measurement of systolic arterial blood pressure. ii. Assessment of cardiac performances (contractility and rhythmicity ). iii. Measurement of blood flow. iv. measurement of vascular reactivity. v. Detection of DNA changes in cardiac myocytes. vi. Laboratory investigations: 1- Measurement of serum Malondialdehyde and total anti-oxidant capacity. The results showed that administration of dexamethasone (20μg/kg/day for 4 weeks) by subcutaneous injection for 4 weeks, there was significant higher levels of systolic blood pressure, renal vascular resistance, heart rate, Aortic reactivity, and malondialdehyde, and a significant lower levels of cardiac contractility, DNA, renal blood flow velocity, serum total antioxidant capacity, when compared with the corresponding values in normotensive group. In hypertensive acupuncture treated group for 4 weeks, there was a significant lower levels of systolic blood pressure, heart rate, renal vascular resistance, Aortic reactivity, Malondialdehyde and a significant higher levels of cardiac contractility, renal blood flow, total antioxidant capacity and DNA when compared with the corresponding values in hypertensive non-treated group. In hypertensive ACE-I treated group, intragastric administration of ACE-I (15 mg/kg/d) for 4 weeks caused a significant lower levels of systolic blood pressure, heart rate, renal vascular resistance, Aortic reactivity, Malondialdehyde and a significant higher levels of cardiac contractility, renal blood flow, total antioxidant capacity and DNA when compared with the corresponding values in hypertensive non-treated group. In hypertensive combined acupuncture and ACE-I treated group, acupuncture treatment combined with intragastric ACE-I (15 mg/kg/d) treatment for 4 weeks caused a significant lower levels of systolic blood pressure, renal vascular resistance, Aortic reactivity, heart rate and Malondialdehyde and a significant higher levels of cardiac contractility, blood flow velocity, DNA, total antioxidative capacity when compared with the corresponding values in hypertensive non-treated, ACE-I treated and acupuncture treated groups. Acupuncture improved cardiovascular performance and DNA changes in dexamethasone induced hypertensive rats. Acupuncture in combination with ACE-I improved the parameters more than the treatment by each alone.