| ObjectiveIn recent years, there are more and more researches on combustion products of moxibustion, and within these studies, many showed that the smoke from moxibustion contains many components that can disinfect the air, kills bacteria, inhibit the growth of virus, clear the body of oxygen free radicals and many other functions. Some studies have shown that production of different concentrations of oxygen free radicals and nitric oxide (NO) is the main cause of depression, hence this study is based on the fact that moxibustion smoke has the function of clearing oxygen free radical, aims to explore the changes of serum NO and hippocampus iNOSmRNA and the morphological changes of hippocampus through the inhalation of moxibustion smoke.Materials and MethodsExperimental animals are40adult male SD rats of clean grade, weight180±20g, feeding ambient temperature (25±2)℃, about35%relative humidity, air freely circulating,12hours of light is maintained, day and night cycle. During the experiment, the rats with has a normal intake of water, acclimatized for1week before the start of the experiment. After all the rats are acclimatized, eight rats were randomly selected. The rats in the same cages were the blank control group (hereinafter referred to as the blank group). Remaining32rats were singly housed, and after putting though21days of chronic unpredictable mild irritation (CUMS) modeling, were randomly divided into four groups, each group has8rats. The four groups were: depression model group (hereinafter referred to as the model group); moxibustion smoke inhalation group (hereinafter referred to as moxibustion smoke group); smoke moxibustion at Baihui group (hereinafter referred to as the moxibustion group); no smoke moxibustion at Baihui group (hereinafter referred to as the no smoke moxibustion group). Moxibustion smoke group is having moxa ignited in a confined space and smoked for20minutes; Smoke moxibustion at Baihui group is after having the rat fixed, it is placed in the enclosed space with moxa ignited and placed over Baihui for20minutes; Non-smoking moxibustion at Baihui group is after having the rat fixed, it is placed in the enclosed space with moxa ignited and placed over Baihui for20minutes, with a fan drawing out the smoke.Before and after the preparation of the model of depression, the rat behavior is tested with the open field test and measurement of body weight; after successful model creation, Elisa assay is tested for the serum NO content; the above test uses SPSS statistical software for statistical analysis. By immunohistochemistry and HE staining observed under the microscope hippocampal slices, Analysis of morphology changes in hippocampal CA1region is made. Real-Time PCR assay in rat hippocampal iNOS mRNA content.ResultOpen-field test results statistics showed that, there is difference in the total movement distance of two groups, between group difference for the blank and model group exists differences. The number of standing with the largest single mobile Distance significant difference is P>0.05. After successful modeling, the mean weight of the blank group and model group were significantly different P<0.05; Weight after the intervention showed significant difference P<0.05. Blank group, model group, moxibustion smoke inhalation group, moxibustion smoke over Baihui group, smokeless moxibustion Baihui group showed difference.Rat serum cytokine content of NO results showed, the blank group and model group, moxibustion smoke inhalation group, moxibustion smoke over Baihui group, smokeless moxibustion Baihui group showed no significant difference.Staining morphology of the hippocampal CA1region neurons were observed under an optical microscope, moxibustion smoke inhalation group relative to the model of depression, moxibustion smoke inhalation in hippocampal CA1neurons were arranged neatly, cells were compact, edge of the cell is clear and complete. Moxibustion smoke over Baihui group compared with moxibustion smoke inhalation group and smokeless moxibustion over Baihui group, hippocampal CA1neurons were neat, cells were compact, the edge of the cell is clear and complete.The moxibustion smoke inhalation for the effect of depression in rats the serum iNOS and hippocampus iNOSmRNA comparison showed that as compared with the control group and model group, the difference was not statistically significant.ConclusionThe results of this study show that moxibustion smoke inhalation (moxibustion over Baihui) caused a decrease in neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal CA1region of rats following chronic stress, indicating that moxibustion smoke inhalation repair the damage of hippocampal neurons function and has a very important meaning and value in clinical applications.Smoke moxibustion over Baihui group results were compared to the significantly lower moxibustion smoke inhalation as well as non-smoking moxibustion over Baihui group on hippocampal CA1region neurons apoptosis and disappear, suggesting that the therapeutic effect of the smoke moxibustion over Baihui is better than moxibustion smoke inhalation group and smokeless moxibustion Baihui group.Results suggest that the neurons of the hippocampal CA1region were repaired, Smoke moxibustion over Baihui (smoke point) has a more prominent role, moxibustion smoke inhalation is more effective than smokeless moxibustion Baihui (simple smokeless moxibustion points), indicating that moxibustion treatment of depression in rats may be through CA1morphological changes. |
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