Objective: This work was designed to observe the influence of acupuncture on the colony forming units of granulocyte-monocyte stem cells in mice treated with cyclophosphamide (CY) and explores the mechanism of acupuncture in increasing the number of white blood cells.

Methods: 32 female healthy Kunming strain mice weighing 2l (1 g were selected and divided into CY moxibustion, CY acupuncture, CY control and normal control groups with 8 mice in each group. Mice in the former three groups were intraperitonea1ly injected CY with 200mg/kg (concentration of 10mg/ml) for one time and mice in the normal control group were injected with equal volume of normal saline.. Start the acupuncture treatment immediately after the injection. In CY moxibustion group, the mouse was fixed in a plate. Applied some vase1ine to "Dazhui" (DU 14), "Geshu" (BL 1 7) points and p1aced with grain-sized moxa. Each point was applied moxibustion for four moxa-cones; In CY acupuncture group, the bilateral "Zusanli" (ST36) and
　　"Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) points were need1ed and the needles retained for five minutes; In CY contfo1 and normal control groups, the mice were just fixed. The mice were treated once daily continuously for four days. In the fifth day took out the femora1 marrow to make CFU-GM culture.

Results: There was more CFU-GM in mice in CY acupuncture group than that of CY contro1 group.

Conclusion: Acupuncture may protect the mouse's stem cells or improve their division and
　　proliferation. Moxibustion produces a better effect than acupuncture.

　　By Yan Duhai & Zhao Xixin
　　Department of Acupuncture and Massage, Henan College of TCM, Zhengzhou 450003, China.