Heat induces adenosine triphosphate release from mast cells in vitro: a putative mechanism for moxibustion.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) purinergic signaling in mast cells (MCs) modulated by heat to further understand the molecular mechanisms of moxibustion. METHODS: Skin temperatures induced by monkshood cake moxibustion were evaluated by measuring the Neiguan acupoint (PC 6) from 31 participants with a digital thermocouple thermometer. Temperatures of 43 °C and 52 °C were applied to cultured human leukemia mast cell line HMC-1 in vitro. Calcium fluorescence was applied to detect intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]). Extracellular ATP contents were measured by luciferin-luciferase assay. RESULTS: Maximum skin temperatures mostly ranged from 40-45 °C , but some reached up to 50 °C. Both 43 °C and 52 °C induced MC degranulation, which was accompanied by an increase in [Ca2+] and ATP release. Complexing extracellular Ca2+ with 5 mM ethylene glycol-bis (ß-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) inhibited the noxious, heat-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i and prevented the enhanced ATP secretion by those. cells at 52 °C, but not 43 °C. CONCLUSION: Monkshood cake moxibustion can generate heat sufficient to trigger cellular events of MCs, including degranulation, [Ca2+]i elevation, and ATP release, suggesting that purinergic signals originating from MCs are possibly the initiating response of acupoints to moxibustion.

Electroacupuncture alleviates complete Freund's adjuvant peripheral chronic inflammatory pain in mice / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into the law of acupuncture analgesic effect and specificities of acupoint action.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult male Kunming mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a model plus electroacupuncture (EA) group and a model plus sham EA group. Chronic inflammatory pain model was prepared by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into right posterior foot, and paw withdrawing latency (PWL) induced by radiation heat was used as pain threshold index, and changes of PWL in all the groups were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After modeling, PWL significantly shortened on the inflammatory side (P < 0.05); EA at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Kunlun" (BL 60) could significantly reverse the shortened PWL (P < 0.05), and this effect was prolonged along with increase of EA times, but in the sham EA group PWL did not significantly change; EA at bilateral "Shousanli" (LI 10) and Neiguan" (PC 6) could not reverse the shortened PWL (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Analgesic effect of EA is strengthened along with increase of EA times and shows specificity of acupoints to a certain extent.</p>