Effects of Moxibustion on Phagocytic Activity in Mice (report 4)

Studies on reticuloendothelial system in liver injury

Abstract

Effects of moxibustion on liver injury induced by CCl₄ and ethionine in mice were investigated in the reticuloendothelial system. The phagocytic activity was determined by the carbon clearance method and the activity of lysosomal enzyme (acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase) in peritoneal exudate cells was measured.
Male ddY and ICR mice (5 weeks old) were used as experimental animals.
Liver injury was produced by the administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in a dose of 0.04ml/body in olive oil, p. o., or single administration of ethionine in a dose 1g/kg, i. p.
15mg of moxa was divided into 6 cones and they were treated by each 3 cones on right and left LV-14.
We obtained the following results. After 15 times administration of CCl₄ (3 times a week), the rise of serum transaminase (GOT, GPT), the decrease of K index and α index which meant phagocytic activity and the increase in liver/body (L/B) and spleen/body (S/B) weight ratio were recognized. For CCl₄ induced liver injury, α index and S/B weight ratio were improved by 10 times moxibustion (2 times a week). After 15 times moxibustion (3 times a week), the tendency to increase in K index and to decrease of α index was seen and, at the same time, an increase in L/B weight ratio was seen.
On the other hand, an increase in K index was induced after single administration of ethionine and simultaneous single moxibustion showed the tendency to decrease of K index.
It was suggested that moxibustion play an important role to regulate the mechanism of reticuloendothelial system on CCl₄ or ethionine induced liver injury.