Effect and mechanism of moxibustion on acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangmen (ST 21) in the prevention and treatment of stress ulcer

Abstract

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangmen (ST 31) on cell proliferation and cell apoptosis of gastric mucosa in rats with stress ulcer, investigatethe mechanism of moxibustion in promoting the repair of gastric mucosal injury at cellular and molecular levels. Methods: Sixty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: the restraint control group, model group, moxibustion on acupoints group and moxibustion on non-acupoints group. Water immersion and restraint stress (WRS) was used to copy the stress ulcer model of rats, radio-immunoassay was used to detect the content of transforming growth factor (TGF-α), and S-P immunohistochemical assay was adopted to determine the HSP70 expression, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cell apoptosis index in gastric mucosa. Results: For the WRS-induced gastric ulcer model of rat,the gastric mucosal injury (gastric ulcer index, UI) was increased, the content of TGF-α was decreased, PCNA was also decreased, HSP70 expression and cell apoptosis index were all increased (P＜0.01). Moxibustion on acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangrnen (ST 31) could decrease UI, increase the content of TGF-α, promote the expression of PCNA and HSP70,decrease cell apoptosis index in gastric mucosa, with significant differences when compared with the model group and control group (P＜0.01). Conclusions: Moxibustion on acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangmen (ST 31) had protective effect on the gastric mucosa of stress ulcer, its mechanism may be promoting the TGF-α synthesis, stimulating cell proliferation in gastric mucosa and inhibiting cell apoptosis in gastric mucosa, and this process is related to the moxibustion-induced HSP70 expression.