1 Yueyang Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
2 Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture-moxibustion and Meridian, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Acupunct Med. 2019 Aug;37(4):244-251. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2017-011455. Epub 2019 Jun 12.
Moxibustion treatment has been found to ameliorate clinical symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Herein we investigated the mechanisms underlying the use of moxibustion in a rat model of IBS.
In our study, an IBS model was established in rats by colorectal distension (CRD) stimulus and mustard oil enema. The rats were randomly divided into a normal group, model group, mild moxibustion group, electroacupuncture group, probiotic group and dicetel group. Abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scores were determined within 90 min of the last treatment. The expression of GDNF/GFRα3 protein and mRNA in the colon and spinal cord were detected by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time-PCR, respectively.
The IBS model rats had significantly higher AWR scores than the normal group (<0.01). After mild moxibustion treatment, the AWR score was significantly reduced (20 mm Hg, <0.05; 40 mm Hg, 60 mm Hg and 80 mm Hg, <0.01). The model group showed significantly more colonic glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF/GFRα3 (GDNF family receptor α3) protein and mRNA expression in the colon and spinal cord than the normal group (<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of GDNF/GFRα3 protein and mRNA in the colon and spinal cord of the rats were significantly decreased in the mild moxibustion group (colon: GDNF and GFRα3 protein, <0.01; GDNF and GFRα3 mRNA, <0.01; spinal cord: GDNF and GFRα3 protein, <0.01; GDNF mRNA, <0.05, GFRα3 mRNA, <0.01).
Our data suggest that moxibustion therapy may mitigate CRD-induced increases in the expression of GDNF and its receptor GFRα3 in the colon and spinal cord in a rat model of IBS.
艾灸治疗已被发现可改善肠易激综合征（IBS）患者的腹痛、腹泻和便秘等临床症状。在此，我们研究了艾灸在 IBS 大鼠模型中的作用机制。
本研究采用结直肠扩张（CRD）刺激和芥末油灌肠法建立 IBS 大鼠模型。将大鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、温和灸组、电针组、益生菌组和地西他滨组。末次治疗后 90 min 内测定腹壁退缩反射（AWR）评分。采用免疫组化和实时定量 PCR 分别检测结肠和脊髓中 GDNF/GFRα3 蛋白和 mRNA 的表达。
IBS 模型大鼠 AWR 评分明显高于正常组（<0.01）。温和灸治疗后，AWR 评分明显降低（20mmHg，<0.05；40mmHg、60mmHg 和 80mmHg，<0.01）。模型组大鼠结肠和脊髓中胶质细胞源性神经营养因子（GDNF/GFRα3（GDNF 家族受体 α3）蛋白和 mRNA 表达明显高于正常组（<0.01）。与模型组比较，温和灸组大鼠结肠和脊髓中 GDNF/GFRα3 蛋白和 mRNA 表达明显降低（结肠：GDNF 和 GFRα3 蛋白，<0.01；GDNF 和 GFRα3 mRNA，<0.01；脊髓：GDNF 和 GFRα3 蛋白，<0.01；GDNF mRNA，<0.05，GFRα3 mRNA，<0.01）。
我们的数据表明，艾灸疗法可能通过减轻 CRD 诱导的 IBS 大鼠结肠和脊髓中 GDNF 及其受体 GFRα3 的表达来缓解 CRD 诱导的大鼠模型。
