衰老时血清NO浓度降低 ;艾灸具有延缓衰老的作用Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on serum nitric oxide (NO) content in aging mice. Methods: A total of 50 Kunming mice were evenly randomized into control group
model group
"Zusanli"(ST 36) group
"Dazhui"(GB 14)-"Mingmen"(GV 4) group (DM-group) and "Zusanli"-"Dazhui"-"Mingmen" (ZDM) group. Subacute aging mouse model was established by subcutaneous injection of 5% D-galactose (0.5 mL/20 g body weight)
once daily and continuously for 42 days. Suspended moxibustion was applied to ST-36
GB-14 and GV-4 for 2 min every acupoint
once daily
with 5 days being a therapeutic course
continuously for 5 courses. After finishing the treatment
blood samples were taken by extracting the eyeball for determining the contents of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as red blood cell superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity.Results: In comparison with control group
NO content and SOD activity decreased and MDA content increased significantly in model group (P<0.05~0.01); while in three moxibustion group
serum NO levels and SOD activity raised considerably and MDA lowered remarkably (P<0.01). It suggests that moxibustion can effectively raise NO level and SOD activity and lower MDA content in aging mice. In addition
in model group
both thymic index and spleen index reduced significantly compared with those of control group (P<0.01); after moxibustion
these two indexes increased evidently
being close to those of normal control group. Histological examination showed that the thymus and spleen of model group presented an atrophic state but those of three moxibustion groups were close to normal. Conclusion: Moxibustion can promote the increase of serum NO level and SOD activity and reduce MDA level in aging mice
that may be responsible for moxibustion induced aging-delaying action.