Research on Effects of the Thermal Stimulation by Moxibustion at Different Temperatures on Cardiac Function in Rats and on Mast Cells in the Local Site of Moxibustion

Abstract

Objective. To observe effects of the thermal stimulation by moxibustion at different temperatures on cardiac function in brachycardia rat model and on mast cells in the local site of moxibustion at the Ximen Acupoint and to compare the differences of the effects of moxibustion at different temperatures. Method. Establish the brachycardia rat model with propranolol and observe effects of the thermal stimulation by moxibustion at different temperatures (38°C and 46°C). Results. The thermal stimulation by moxibustion at 2 temperatures may increase HR, MAP, LVSP, and +dp/dtmax and reduce t-dp/dtmax in brachycardia rats; the 46°C moxibustion group shows greater regulating effects on cardiac function in rats than that in the 38°C moxibustion group (P < 0.05). The thermal stimulation by moxibustion at 2 temperatures may promote degranulation of mast cells in the local site of moxibustion at the Ximen Acupoint; the degranulation rate in the 46°C moxibustion group is higher than that in the 38°C moxibustion group (P < 0.05). Conclusion. There is a certain association between the effect on the target organ and the effect in the local site of moxibustion. The moxibustion effect possibly resulted from local mast cells degranulation and different thermoreceptors activated by the thermal stimulation at different temperatures.

Mast cell activation in the acupoint is important for the electroacupuncture effect against pituitrin-induced bradycardia in rabbits

“…found that mast cells behaved in a same way in rats with colitis during moxibustion 6 . Moreover, Wang showed that different degranulation ratios of mast cells during thermal stimulation correspond to cardiac function changes in a bradycardia rat model 7 . These studies suggest that the function of mast cells may be universal for the activation of an acupoint regardless of the acupoint or the treatment.…”

What is the Acupoint? A preliminary review of Acupoints

“…Acupoints could accept a variety of forms of stimulation, such as the mechanical stimulation of the needle, the thermal and Chinese medical stimulation of moxibustion, the electrical current stimulation of electroacupuncture (EA), and the radiated stimulation of laser acupuncture , which play the important role in the acupuncture treatment of diseases. Early morphological structure studies were analyzed from the perspective of the anatomical structure, which reported that the nervous system , blood vessels , or muscle may have a closely relationship with acupoints.…”

“…Zhang et al found that acupoints may increase the degranulation of mast cells, and the density of mast cells from the ST36 of rats was higher than a nearby sham point. Meanwhile, moxibustion may also activate degranulation of mast cells at the Ximen ( PC4 ) , Tianshu ( ST25 ) of different disease rat model. Langevin found 80% correspondence between the sites of acupoints and the location of intermuscular or intramuscular connective tissues in postmortem tissue sections .…”

Additional Effects of Back-Shu Electroacupuncture and Moxibustion in Cardioprotection of Rat Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

“…Some trials have attempted to enhance the myocardial protective effects of EA or moxibustion, but most of these only added or manipulated stimulation methods. Some used different acupuncture points [ 14 ], others prolonged the time of stimulation [ 15 ], and one explored moxibustion treatment using different temperatures [ 16 ], but none explored added effects.…”