[Progress in the study on the relationship between effects of acu-moxibustion and mast cells in acupoints]

The present paper reviews develonment of researches on the relationship between mast cells (MCs) and effects of acupuncture and moxibustion from (1) the formation, distribution, types, morphological characters of MCs and their biological effects, (2) the number and degranulation of MCs in acupoints, (3) the relavance of MCs and the phenomenon of sensation transmission along meridian, and 4) the correlation between the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for relieving allergic reaction and MCs. Researches show that (1) MCs act as one of the characteristic constituents in acupoints where the MCs are in close relation with the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion, (2) MCs participate in the regulatory process of the organism in physiology and pathology. The underlying mechanism of MCs-related neuro-humoral regulation and meridian needs to be studied further.