Study on the effect of moxibustion in treating rheumatoid arthritis rats and its mechanism
Item
Title
Study on the effect of moxibustion in treating rheumatoid arthritis rats and its mechanism
Description
J Acupunct Tuina Sci (2012), Chuan-yu, Peng
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of moxibustion in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its mechanism. Methods: A hundred male Wistar rats were randomized into 5 groups, 20 in each group. RA models were developed in all groups except for the normal group. When the models were successfully prepared, the rats in the normal group and the model group didn’t receive any treatment. Those in the moxibustion group received suspended moxibustion by moxa stick, those in the cigarette group received fumigation by cigarette; while those in the moxa oil group were treated by applying moxa essential oil to acupoints. After consecutive 15-day treatment, body weight, paw circumference, thymus and spleen indexes were compared among the five groups, and the expression of Fas/FasL protein in synovium of rat’s joint was detected by using immunohistochemical (IHC) method. Results: After treatment, the moxibustion group had body weight increased, joint swelling relieved, thymus index enhanced, spleen index dropped, and the expression of Fas/FasL protein raised. Regarding the above indexes, the moxibustion group and the cigarette group showed more significant improvements than the moxa oil group; the moxibustion group had more significant effect on the expression of Fas/FasL than the cigarette group. Conclusion: Moxibustion obviously improves the symptoms of RA rats, regulates the expression of Fas/FasL protein in synovium of rat’s joint, and induces apoptosis of synovial cells, which maybe one of the mechanisms of moxibustion in achieving the warming and unblocking effect.
Alternative Title
J Acupunct Tuina Sci
Creator
Date
Language
English
issn
1672-3597
issue
6
page end
341
page start
336
volume
10