title: [Effect of moxibustion with ignited Zhuang-medicine medicated-thread on interstitial cells of Cajal in gastric antrum in diabetic gastroparesis rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of Zhuang-medicine medicated-thread moxibustion therapy on interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the gastric antrum of diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) rats, so as to investigate its mechanism underlying improving DGP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control (n = 30) , model (n = 30) and moxibustion (n = 30). The DGP model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) and by feeding the rats with high fat-sugar forage. Zhuang-medicine medicated-thread moxibustion was applied to "Zhongwan" (CV 12), bilateral "Pishu" (BL 20), "Weishu" (BL 21), "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) once per day, for 3 weeks except weekends. The gastrointestinal propulsion rate and weight of stool in 24 h were determined, and c-kit (a marker for ICC) expression of the gastric antrum tissue was measured by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The stool weight was significantly higher in the model group than in the control group (P < 0.01), but the rate of gastrointestinal propulsion and the rate of c-kit immunoreaction (IR) positive cells in the gastric antrum tissue were significantly lower in the model group than in the control group (P < 0.01). After moxibustion, the increased stool weight and the decreased gastrointestinal propulsion rate and decreased c-kit IR-positive cell rate were reversed (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zhuang-medicine medicated-thread moxibustion therapy can improve gastrointestinal function in DGP rats, which may be associated with its effect in up-regulating the expression of c-kit IR-positive ICC.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fu-Rui
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Yu-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jun-Ling
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu-Shan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D056885:Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009071:Moxibustion; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit