Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the expression of IL-l β and iNOSmRNA in ulcerative colitis rats.

Methods: Human fresh colonic mucosa was homogenized by adding appropriate amount of normal saline and centrifuged at 3000r/min for collecting supernatant. Protein content was then detected and then mixed with Freund adjuvant to be injected into the toes of the model group rats (3mg every time), then into the toe, dorsum of the foot, IL-1β and iNOSmRNA inguen and abdominal cavity (6mg every time, no Freund adjuvant for the last injection) on the l0th, l7 th ,24 th and 31st day respectively. When the serum anti-colonic antibody reached a certain titer, 20ml/L formalin and antigen fluid (no Freund adjuvant) was administered by enema to set up ulcerative colitis rat model. The anima1s were randomly divided into model control group (n=8), electroacupuncture (EA) group (n=8), Chinese drug-separated moxibustion group (n=8) and normal control group (n=8). In moxibustion group: Tianshu (ST 25) and Qihai (RN 6) were applied moxibustion for 2 cones by placing a drug cake (made of Radix Aconiti praeparata, Cortex Cinnamomi, etc.) at the acupoint area. The treatment was conducted once dai1y, l4 times altogether. In EA group, Tianshu (ST 25, bilateral) and Qihai (RN 6) were needled and stimulated with a G6805 EA Therapeutic Apparatus by setting the stimulating parameters being intermittent pulses, 2Hz frequency, 4mA intensity and duration of 20 minutes. After treatment, all the animals were killed simultaneously. The spleen and distal part of the colon were dissected and taken out for extracting total RNA by employment of guanidinium thiocyanate phenol-chloroform method. The expression of IL-l β and iNOSmRNA was detected using RT-PCR technique.

Results: In normal control group, no IL-1βand iNOSmRNA expression was found in both spleen and colon tissues, whle in model control group, a large amount of IL-l βand iNOSmRNA expression was observed. Compared with model control group, IL-lβ and iNOSmRNA expression was markedly lower in EA and moxibustion groups, Whi1e there was no signiticant difference between these two groups.

Conclusion: Acupuncture and moxibustion can striking1y suppress the expression of IL-lβ and iNOSmRNA in experimental ulcerative colitis rats.

By Wu Ganjin, Lu Haibin, Shi Zheng Liu Huirong & Chen HanPing