Moxibustion at ST36 alleviates pain in complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritic rats.
This study was to investigate the antinociceptive effects of moxibustion in a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritic rat model, and the effects of moxibustion on immunohistochemical changes at the spinal cord level. Moxibustion was applied to the ipsilateral (right) Zusanli (ST36) acupoint to the lesion side for 9 days to CFA-induced arthritic rats. The stepping force was measured as a behavioral test, c-Fos immunohistochemistry, NO production and nNOS Western blots were examined to evaluate antinociceptive effects. Moxibustion at ST36 significantly improved the stepping force in the affected hind limb in CFA-induced arthritis. Moreover, moxibustion at ST36 suppressed the production of NO and the protein expression of c-Fos and nNOS induced by arthritis. These results suggest that moxibustion at ST36 has a potent antinociceptive effect in an arthritic rat model, and modulates neuronal excitability and endogenous NO production by suppressing c-Fos and nNOS protein expression.
Kim
Jae-Hyo
JH
Department of Meridian and Acupoint, College of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, Korea.
Kim
Hee-Kee
HK
Park
Yong-Il
YI
Sohn
In-Churl
IC
Choi
Dong-Ok
DO
Kim
Min-Sun
MS
Park
Byung-Rim
BR
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant / Q000494:pharmacology; D006614:Hindlimb; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009071:Moxibustion; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I