Objective: To investigate the influence of external application of Banmao (Mylabris) ointment at Du Meridian points on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice, and explore the partial mechanism of the therapeutic effect by examining the splenic interleukin-l level in collagen-immunized mice.

Methods: DBA/lJ mice were used in this study Bovine type II collagen was emulsified an equal volume of complete Freund's adjuvant. Each mouse was immunized by 200g collagen by an intradermal injection. The booster immunization with same dose of collagen emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant on the 2lth, day again. Banmao (Mylabris) ointment, which is mixed by Banmao (Mylabris) and Vaseline in the ratio of l:4, was pasted on the point Mingmen (GV4) or Zhiyang (GV9) alternatively. The treatment was given twice a week frorn the 20th day to the 40 th day after the first immunization. The occurrence, day of onset, arthritic index, antibody level of II anti-collagen and splenic IL-1 (in two groups were examined).

Results: The contro1 group of mice (n=8) developed arthritis in 87.5%, the treatment group by Banmao (Mylabris) on the points produced lower incidence of arthritis in 50%. No significant difference could be detected between two groups in the time of onset of disease. In comparison with the immunized control group in which 75.5% of limbs affected, there was 37.5% of limbs affected in treatment group with Banmao (Mylabris). The severity of disease increased progressively in control group from the 36 th day onward compared with that in treatment group. The average arthritic index in immunized control mice was 3.0±l.3, and that in treatment group was 1 .4±l. l. The titer of anti-collagen antibody on the 20th day after the first immunization was 8.9± 2.2 X 104 U/ml in control group and 8.0± l .7xl04U/ml in treatment group; on the 45th day it was respectively 27.6 ± 2.8 X 1 04 U/m1 and 1 6.9±2.4 X l0 U/ml in control group and treatment group, so the level of antibody in treatment group was significantly controlled. The pathological change number of paws of mice in treatment group (62%) was much lower than that in control group (78%), and the number of paws with lesions also less.The average index of histopathologic lesion was 1 .04±0.14 in treatment group and l .56 ± 0. 14 in control group. The average amount of splenic IL-l (in control group was 7. l ± 0.3 ng/g, that in treatment group was 5.5 ± 0.5 ng/g which was distinctively decreased than that in control group.

Conclusion: Application of Banmao (Mylabris) at Du Meridian points can significantly inhibit the occurrence of CIA in mice, and reduce the arthritic index, anti-collagen antibody level and histopathologic lesion, which indicate that this method possesses the therapeutic effect on CIA. The resu1t also suggests that the effect be attributed to the inhibited production of endogenous IL-1.

　　By Fang Jianqiao, Liu Jinhong Zhao Tianzheeng & Chen Haiying
　　Acupuncture -Moxibustion & Mas sage Dept of Zhejiang College of TCM, Hangzhou 3 l0009, China.