Experimental study on the effect of different moxibustion durations on rats with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective

To observe the effect of different moxibustion durations on rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to evaluate the relationship between moxibustion amount and moxibustion efficacy.

Methods

Eight rats were randomly selected as a normal group from the 40 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and the other 32 rats were used to establish type II collagen-induced RA models. After successful modeling, the 32 rats were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion for 20 min group, a moxibustion for 40 min group and a moxibustion for 60 min group, with 8 rats in each group. Rats in the normal group did not receive modeling and moxibustion intervention; rats in the model group did not receive moxibustion after modeling; rats in the moxibustion for 20 min group, the moxibustion for 40 min group and the moxibustion for 60 min group were treated with moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) for 20 min, 40 min and 60 min, respectively. Six days were a course of treatment, with a total of 3-course treatments and a 1-day rest between the courses of treatment. After treatment, the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, arthritis index (AI) scores, toe volumes and pathological score of synovitis were evaluated in the rats.

Results

Compared with the normal group, the serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels, and the toe volumes in the model group were increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01), before the treatment. Compared with the model group, the serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels, toe volumes and arthritis index (AI) scores were significantly decreased in the moxibustion for 20 min group, the moxibustion for 40 min group and the moxibustion for 60 min group (P<0.05 or P<0.01 ). Compared with the moxibustion for 20 min group and the moxibustion for 60 min group, serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels, toe volumes and AI scores were decreased more significantly in moxibustion for 40 min group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were no significant differences in serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels, AI scores and toe volumes between the moxibustion for 20 min group and the moxibustion for 60 min group (all P>0.05). The synovial histopathological improvement was the most obvious in the moxibustion for 40 min group, when the synovial histopathological changes were compared among the moxibustion for 20 min group, moxibustion for 40 min group and moxibustion for 60 min group.

Conclusion

The therapeutic efficacy of moxibustion for 40 min in RA rats was more significant than that of moxibustion for 20 min and moxibustion for 60 min, indicating that the duration of moxibustion is the main factor affecting its therapeutic efficacy.

摘要

目的

观察不同艾灸持续时间对类风湿关节炎(RA)大鼠影响的差异, 评价灸量与灸效的关系。

方法

将 40 只雄性Sprague-Dawley (SD)大鼠随机选取8 只作为正常组, 其他32 只建立 II 型胶原诱导的RA 模型。造模成功 后, 将32 只大鼠随机分为模型组、艾灸20 min 组、艾灸40 min 组和艾灸60 min 组, 每组8 只。正常组不造模, 不进行艾灸干预; 模型组大鼠造模后不予艾灸干预; 艾灸20 min 组、艾灸40 min 组和艾灸60 min 组大鼠分别接 受艾灸肾俞和足三里20 min、40 min 和60 min 治疗。6 d 为1 个疗程, 疗程间休息1 d, 共治疗3 个疗程。治疗结 束后, 观察大鼠血清中白介素(IL)-1β 和肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α 水平、关节炎指数(AI)评分、足趾容积和滑膜炎症病 理学评分。

结果

治疗前, 与正常组比较, 模型组大鼠血清IL-1β 和TNF-α 水平升高, 足趾容积增加, 组间差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.01)。与模型组比较, 艾灸20 min 组、艾灸40 min 组和艾灸60 min 组血清IL-1β、TNF-α 水平、足趾容积和AI 评分均显著下降(P<0.05 or P<0.01)。与艾灸20 min 组和艾灸60 min 组比较, 艾灸40 min 组血清IL-1β 和TNF-α 水平、足趾容积和AI 评分下降更明显, 组间有统计学差异(P<0.05 or P<0.01)。艾灸20 min 组和艾灸60 min 组比较, 血清IL-1β、TNF-α 水平、AI 评分和足趾容积差异均无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。艾灸 20 min 组、艾灸40 min 组和艾灸60 min 组的滑膜组织病理的改变比较, 艾灸40 min 组滑膜组织病理改善最明显。

结论

艾灸40 min 治疗RA 大鼠的作用效果比艾灸20 min 及艾灸60 min 更明显, 说明艾灸治疗持续时间是影响 艾灸治疗效果的主要因素。