ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the protective effect of moxibustion in initiating the endogenous protection information on gastric mucosa, and its relationship with the pathway of common peroneal nerve.Methods: Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group (group A), a model group (group B), a moxibustion model group (group C) and a moxibustion model plus surgery group (group D), 12 in each group. Except for group A, rats in the other groups were treated with dehydrated ethanol and aspirin to prepare gastric mucosal damage model. The rats in group B were not treated with any interventions; rats in group C received moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36), twice a day for continuous 3 d. The rats in group D were subjected to preparing the gastric mucosal damage model after the common peroneal nerve transection, followed by moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36). After a 3-day intervention, ulcer index (UI) in each group was observed, and the levels of gastric mucosa-related repair cytokines of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were detected.Results: Compared with group A, the pathological changes and UI of group B were worse (P=0.000), but TNF-α in serum and tissue was changed significantly (P=0.000,P=0.002), IL-4 in serum and tissue was improved significantly (P=0.000, P=0.000). Compared with group B, TNF-α and IL-4 in group C and group D were significantly improved (TNF-α:P=0.003, P=0.016; IL-4:P=0.000,P=0.002). Compared with group C, the changes of UI in group B and group D were poor (both P=0.000); the levels of TNF-α and IL-4 in serum were significantly decreased (TNF-α:P=0.000,P=0.025; IL-4:P=0.000, P=0.034); and tissue HSP70 levels were decreased significantly (P=0.000,P=0.033).Conclusion: Zusanli (ST 36) can transmit information through the pathway of common peroneal nerve, regulate the release of gastric mucosal protective factors, and up-regulate the expression of cytothesis-related proteins, so as to achieve the effect in repairing gastric mucosa.
ABSTRACT
This article provides the possible mechanism of acupuncture-moxibustion repair of gastric mucosal injury from central regulation and puts it forward that the nucleus of solitary tract is the primary regulation center for the injury repair and has the effect of collecting and integrating information. In addition, it is put forward that neural regulation is a main regulatory mechanism for the injury repair and besides, endocrine, immune and humoral regulations participates in the modulation and gastric mucosal repair involves a composite regulatory mechanism in which the central nervous system, neuroendocrine-immune network and neurohumoral regulation take part.