Herb-partition moxibustion relieves chronic visceral hyperalgesia and 5-HT concentration in colon mucosa of rats.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of herb-partition moxibustion on rectal sensory thresholds and to analyse possible mechanism of herb-partition moxibustion in treating chronic visceral hypersensitivity rats.

METHODS:

Herb-partition moxibustion was administered to chronic visceral hypersensitivity rats for 7 days (once daily). Two moxa cylinders were used for each point in one treatment. Chronic visceral hypersensitivity rats without herb-partition moxibustion and normal rats were chosen as the control groups. Detection of abdominal withdrawal reflex was performed during 30-90 minutes after the first treatment. After seven treatments, a segment of distal colon (5 cm in length) was harvested, and 5-hydroxytryptamine concentration in the colon tissue was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS:

Herb-partition moxibustion significantly depressed abnormally increased AWR scores from the rectus abdominis in response to colorectal distention stimulation at strengths of 40 and 60 mmHg. Herb-partition moxibustion decreased 5-hydroxytryptamine concentration in colon tissue of chronic visceral hypersensitivity rats.

CONCLUSION:

Herb-partition moxibustion enhances the pain threshold of chronic visceral hypersensitivity rats and restores normal sensitivity by 5-hydroxytryptamine concentration decreased in the colon tissue. However, whether herb-partition moxibustion could enhance the pain threshold of IBS patients or not is not concluded in this study because of only small sample rats experiment.

• Authors: En-Hua Zhou, Hui-Rong Liu, Huan-Gan Wu, Yin Shi, Xiao-Mei Wang, Li-Qing Yao, Yun-Shi Zhong, Yun Yang
• Journal: Neurological research (Neurol Res) Vol. 31 Issue 7 Pg. 734-7 (Sep 2009) ISSN: 0161-6412 [Print] England
• PMID: 19108755 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Serotonin

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Colon (innervation, metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Hyperalgesia (therapy)
• Moxibustion (instrumentation, methods)
• Pain Threshold (physiology)
• Physical Stimulation
• Phytotherapy (instrumentation, methods)
• Rats
• Reflex, Abdominal (physiology)
• Serotonin (metabolism)
• Visceral Afferents (physiopathology)