Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2020, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (20): 3135-3139.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2554

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Effect of different courses of heat-sensitive moxibustion on the morphology of surrounding connective tissue and spinal cord in a rat model of osteoporosis 

Wu Huiting, Cui Tiantian, Ouyang Hougan, Ouyang Yanchu, Yi Lan, Chen Chu   

  1. Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China
  • Received:2019-05-13 Revised:2019-05-23 Accepted:2019-09-17 Online:2020-07-18 Published:2020-04-10
  • Contact: Ouyang Hougan, MD, Associate professor, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China
  • About author:Wu Huiting, Master candidate, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China Cui Tiantian, Master candidate, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China Wu Huiting and Cui Tiantian contributed equally to this work.
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81360601; Science and Technology Research Project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education, No. GJJ180649

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: It has been proved in clinical practice and basic research that acupuncture and moxibustion at Mingmen acupoint is an effective treatment for primary osteoporosis. As a new therapeutic method, heat-sensitive moxibustion has achieved good results in clinical practice, but the research on its mechanism is still in the blank stage.

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic mechanism of heat-sensitive moxibustion from the perspective of connective tissue and nervous system, and to explore the optimal therapeutic time of heat-sensitive moxibustion in a certain time range.

METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into five groups: normal group, model group, 4-, 7-, and 14-day heat-sensitive moxibustion groups. Osteoporosis models were prepared by ovariectomy and treated with heat-sensitive moxibustion at different times. After treatment, the superficial subcutaneous fascia 0.5-1.5 cm around the Mingmen acupoint and the spinal cord were stained with fluorescence and hematoxylin-eosin staining. The concentrations of phosphorus ion, calcium ions and alkaline phosphatase in rat serum were detected before and after 14 days of heat-sensitive sensitive moxibustion.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Morphological changes of intrafascial fibers by fluorescence staining: In the normal and model groups, collagen fibers were interlaced and arranged in a network. In the 4-day heat-sensitive moxibustion group, the arrangement of collagen fibers showed no changes. After 14 days of intervention the collagen fibers were stretched and pulled significantly under the effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion, and showed a centripetal arrangement toward the Mingmen acupoint. (2) Hematoxylin-eosin staining results of the spinal cord: After 4 days of heat-sensitive moxibustion, the rat spinal cord had no obvious change compared with the model group. After 7 days of heat-sensitive moxibustion, anterior cornual neurons increased in number and size, and the number of glial cells in the spinal dorsal horn increased. After 14 days of heat-sensitive moxibustion, anterior horn neurons increased significantly in number and in size, with large and round nuclei, obvious nucleoli, and enlarged and regularly arranged nerve fibers; glial cells in the posterior horn increased significantly in number and arranged densely. (3) Serum concentration determination: After 14 days of heat-sensitive moxibustion, the concentrations of phosphorus ions and alkaline phosphatase in rat serum increased significantly (P < 0.01), and the concentration of calcium ions decreased significantly (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that heat-sensitive moxibustion can ameliorate the symptoms of osteoporosis through the morphological changes of connective tissue and nerve-body fluid regulation. Heat-sensitive moxibustion for 14 days can achieve ideal results.

Key words: heat-sensitive moxibustion, osteoporosis, different courses of treatment, superficial fascia, spinal cord, loose connective tissue, nervous system

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