Abstracts
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2000. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 15, 2000; 6(Suppl3): 107-107
Published online Sep 15, 2000. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v6.iSuppl3.107
Mechanism of iNOS gene modulation on acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for ulcerative colitis in rats
Huan-Gan Wu, Hai-Bin Lu, Chen-Zhao, Zheng-Shi, Hiu-Rong Liu, Han-Ping Chen
Huan-Gan Wu, Hai-Bin Lu, Chen-Zhao, Zheng-Shi, Hiu-Rong Liu, Han-Ping Chen, Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Meridian, Shanghai 200030, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Science Foundation of China. No. 39670899
Correspondence to: Dr. Huan-Gan Wu, Professor, Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Meridian, 650 South Wan Ping Road, Shanghai 200030, China
Telephone: 21-34250009/64395972
Received: July 5, 2000
Revised: July 8, 2000
Accepted: July 10, 2000
Published online: September 15, 2000
Abstract

AIM: To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the expression of IL-1β and iNOS mRNA in rats, with ulcerative colitis.

METHODS: Surgical samples of fresh human colonic mucosa was homogenized by adding appropriate amount of normal saline and centrifuged at 3000 r/min. Protein content of the supernatant was measured and then mixed with Freund adjuvant, and injected into the plantae of the rats models, then into the plantae, dorsa, inguen and abdominal cavities (no Freund adjuvant for the last injection) on the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st day respectively. When serum titer of anti colonic antibody has reached to a certain level, 20 mL/L formalin and antigen fluid (no Freund adjuvant) were administered by enema to set up ulcerative colitis rat mode. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: model control group (MC = 8), electroacupuncture group (EP = 8), herbs partition moxibustion group (HPM = 8) and normal control group (NC = 8). HPM: Mosa cones made of refined mugwort floss were placed on the medicinal pads (medicinal pad dispensing: Radix Aconiti Praeparata, cortex Cinnamomi, etc.) for qihai (RN6) and tianshu (ST25, bilateral) and ignited. Two moxa cones were used for each acupuncture once a day and 14 times in all. EP: tisnshu (bilateral) and qihai were stimulated by the intermittent pulse with 2 Hz frequency, 4 mA intensity for 20 min once a day and 14 times in all. After treatment, all rats were killed simultaneously. The spleen was separated and distal colon was dissected. Total tissue RNA was isolated by the guanidinium thiocyanate phenol-chloroform extraction method. RT-PCR technique was used to observe the expression of IL-1β and iNOS mRNA no Freund adjuvant.

RESULTS: IL-1β and iNOS mRNA were not detected in the spleen and colonic mucosa of NC rats, while they were significantly expressed in those of MC rats. IL-1β and iNOS mRNA were markedly lower in EF and HPM rats than those in MC rats. There were no significant difference in the levels of IL-1β and iNOS mRNA between EP and HPM rats. The amount of IL-1β and iNOS mRNA was nearly the same between the spleen and colon in different groups.

CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and moxibustion greatly inhibited the expression of IL-1β and iNOS mRNA in the ulcerative colitis rats.

Keywords: Colitis, ulcerative/therapy; Acupuncture therapy; gene expression; RNA; Ubterkeukin-1; Polymerase chain reaction; Nitric oxide; Rats