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[Effect of moxibustion on quantity of pinealocytes and pineal HSP 70 expression in subacute aging rats]
1Departmentof Acu-moxibustion, The Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang Medical College, Guiyang 550004, China. lxnhfkx@yahoo.com.cn
Objective:
To study the mechanism of moxibustion in postponing the process of aging.
Methods:
Thirty Wistar rats were equally randomized into control, model and moxibustion groups. The subacute aging model was established by hypodermic injection of 25% D-galactose (125 mg/kg). Moxibustion was applied to bilateral "Shenshu" (GV 23) and "Pishu" (GV 20) once everyday for 6 weeks. After slicing, the pineal gland tissue was stained with HE and insitu hybridization methods respectively for detecting the quantity of pinealocytes and the expression of heat shock protein (HSP 70).
Results:
Compared with the control group, both the quantity of pinealocytes and the expression of HSP 70 in the pineal gland in the model group were downregulated significantly (P < 0.001, P < 0.01). Compared with model group, the quantity of pinealocytes and of HSP 70 mRNA in the pineal gland of moxibustion group were upregulated significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Moxibustion can suppress aging induced decrease of pinealocyte number and HSP 70 expression in subacute aging rats, which may contribute to its effect in postponing aging.
