Abstract
We have reported that moxibustion to MEIMON (GV4) acupoint suppressed severity of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA/1J mice. However, the mechanism in the effect of moxibustion is still not clear. Small burn is often observed by moxibustion, therefore we attempted to evaluate if burning stress is involved in the mechanism of moxibustion's effect. To examine that question, we compared the effect of moxibustion in different dose and different acupoint in CIA mice, and also we measured the corticosterone level in those animals. Male DBA/1J mice were separated into six groups. Group 1: CIA (immunized with bovine type II collagen), Group 2: CIA+GV4 (MEIMON, 1.0mg), Group 3: CIA+GV4 (0.5mg), Group 4: CIA+CV12 (CHUKAN, 1.0mg), Group 5: no treatment control, Group 6: GV4 (1.0mg). Moxibustion: applied moxa cone on the acupoint 5 times a day, 3 days a week, for 2 weeks. We evaluated the severity of arthritis by using arthritis score method in all the groups and determined the plasma corticosterone level on day35. Moxibustion to GV4 (1.0mg) significantly suppressed the arthritis score compared to CIA group. CIA+GV4 (0.5mg) and CIA+CV12 (1.0mg) did not show any change. The plasma corticosterone level in CIA was significantly higher than that of control, though the same level in CIA+GV4 (1.0mg). The results suggested that CIA in mice was not influenced by burning, and acupoint-specific and appropriate heat stimulation was needed in moxibustion treatment for the effective inhibition of arthritis severity in CIA mice. [J Physiol Sci. 2008;58 Suppl:S215]
