[Ultrastructural changes of collagen fibrils in mouse dermal connective tissue after moxibustion treatment]

Morphological changes in mouse back skin, especially dermal connective tissue, were observed after moxibustion treatment. Various amounts of direct moxibustion and indirect moxibustion (column) were performed and the exact skin area was processed for light and electron microscopy. Just after treatment, epidermal cell layer was degenerated and increased amounts of mast cells were observed. Many unwinding collagen fibrils were prominent. Twenty-four hours after treatment, the number of unwinding fibrils decreased. Instead, tightly winding fibrils, sometimes thicker, were observed in a similar area. D-period of collagen fibrils did not change in any situation. Physical reaction to moxibustion varies depending on stimulation rate and/or approach, which includes the change of interstitial connective tissues as well as cellular profiles. It is also important to survey the time-dependent changes in moxibustion treatment.