Abstract
Our previous studies demonstrated that effects of moxibustion heavily relied on heat-sensitization response, a specific sensation induced by moxibustion in the ill body. On the sensation, long-term potentiation (LTP) of prelimbic cortex was attributed to heat-sensitization responses. The N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor plays a key role in LTP induction; however, little is known about the role of NMDA receptor in heat-sensitization response. The present study investigated the role of NMDA receptor in heat-sensitization response, specifically, NMDA receptor was inhibited by competitive glutamatergic antagonist, (±)-3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP), observing the frequency of heat-sensitization response in moxibustion treatment and evaluating the conducive outcomes to cerebral infarct rats for rehabilitation. Heat-sensitization response in cerebral infarct rats was regularly measured for all the samples when exposed to moxibustion. Intraperitoneal injection of CPP was conducted, and soon afterwards, a significant drop of heat-sensitization response in all the samples was measured. Moreover, moxibustion efficiency on rehabilitation was unfavourably affected in cerebral infarct rats when compared to vehicle injection control. This indicated that NMDA receptor antagonist made a negative impact on induction of heat-sensitization response and consequently affected cerebral infarct rats to rehabilitate under moxibustion treatment. It also suggested that activating NMDA receptor played a positive part in ischemic stroke rehabilitation, and regulating its activity could be a feasible way to increase heat-sensitization response, improving the effect of moxibustion.
Highlights
Suspended moxibustion, a method of moxibustion treatments, is applied with heat generated from burning moxa 3–5 cm above over skin surface
Studies have demonstrated that long-term potentiation (LTP) of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine prelimbic cortex was attributed to heat-sensitization responses [3,4,5]
Heat-sensitization responses were repeatedly observed in cerebral infarct rats when the acupoint dazhu i (DU 14) being exposed to suspended moxibustion, with tail temperature increase (TTI) signifying the sensation, heat-sensitization response (Figure 1 exhibits the conduction and the responses) [7]. is study investigated the frequency of TTI and moxibustion efficacy in cerebral infarct rats when NMDA receptor was inhibited
Summary
A method of moxibustion treatments, is applied with heat generated from burning moxa 3–5 cm above over skin surface During this process, healthy subjects usually perceive the local warmth upon moxibustion alone, while patients often complain of the heatsensitization responses, including strong warmth spreading around the stimulating site or penetrating into the body, accompanied quite frequently with pleasant feelings, and better clinical treatment efficacy in a number of diseases [1, 2]. Since LTP induction depends critically on activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors [6], we hypothesized that the NMDA receptor could be involved with heat-sensitization response. It may manifest in inhibiting the NMDA receptor when heat-sensitization responses occur. Heat-sensitization responses were repeatedly observed in cerebral infarct rats when the acupoint dazhu i (DU 14) being exposed to suspended moxibustion, with tail temperature increase (TTI) signifying the sensation, heat-sensitization response (Figure 1 exhibits the conduction and the responses) [7]. is study investigated the frequency of TTI and moxibustion efficacy in cerebral infarct rats when NMDA receptor was inhibited
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