Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 28, 2011; 17(32): 3733-3738
Published online Aug 28, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i32.3733
Moxibustion activates mast cell degranulation at the ST25 in rats with colitis
Yin Shi, Li Qi, Jing Wang, Ming-Shu Xu, Dan Zhang, Lu-Yi Wu, Huan-Gan Wu
Yin Shi, Li Qi, Ming-Shu Xu, Dan Zhang, Lu-Yi Wu, Huan-Gan Wu, Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Meridians, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
Jing Wang, Research Centre of Interconnections between meridian and entrails, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, Anhui Province, China
Author contributions: Shi Y and Qi L contributed equally to this work; Wu HG, Shi Y and Qi L designed the research; Shi Y, Wang J and Wu LY performed the research; Xu MS and Zhang D analyzed the data; Qi L and Shi Y wrote and revised the manuscript; Wu HG supervised the whole research and edited the manuscript.
Supported by National Basic Research Program of China (973 program), No. 2009CB522900; National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30973785; Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project, No. S30304; Shanghai Rising-Star Program, No. 10QA1406100
Correspondence to: Huan-Gan Wu, Professor, Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Meridians, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China. wuhuangan@126.com
Telephone: +86-21-64644238 Fax: +86-21-64644238
Received: November 30, 2010
Revised: March 3, 2011
Accepted: March 10, 2011
Published online: August 28, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effects of moxibustion on the morphology and function of mast cells (MC) at Tianshu (ST25) in rats with trinitro-benzene-sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis.

METHODS: A total of 53 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group and experimental group. In the experimental group, a rat model of TNBS-induced colitis was established, and the rats were then randomly divided into a model group, moxibustion group, moxibustion plus disodium cromoglycate (M + DC) group and moxibustion plus normal saline (M + NS) group. Rats in the moxibustion group received suspended moxibustion at bilateral ST25 for 10 min, once a day for 7 d. Rats in the M + DC and M + NS groups were pretreated with disodium cromoglycate and normal saline at bilateral ST25, respectively, and were then concurrently subjected to the same treatment as rats in the moxibustion group. The hematoxylin-eosin staining method was used to observe histology of the colon and the toluidine blue-improved method was used to observe mast cells at ST25 acupoint areas.

RESULTS: An improvement in colonic injury in the moxibustion group was observed and the degranulation ratio of MC at ST25 acupoint was markedly higher in the moxibustion group than in the model group (45.91 ± 11.41 vs 32.58 ± 8.28, P < 0.05). After inhibition of degranulation of MC at ST25 by disodium cromoglycate, no improvement in colon tissue injury was observed.

CONCLUSION: Moxibustion exerted its effect on healing impaired colonic mucosa in rats with TNBS-induced colitis by increasing the degranulation ratio of local MC, but had little effect on the morphology of MC at ST25 acupoint.

Keywords: Disodium cromoglycate, Colitis, Mast cell, Moxibustion, ST25 acupoint