Objective: To observe the effect of herbal-cake-separated moxibustion on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 in hyperlipemia (HLP) rabbits with concomitant aterosclerosis (AS) so as to explore the mechanism of moxibustion in improving HLP. Methods: Seventy-five New Zealand species rabbits were divided into control (n=13)

model (n=14)

direct-moxibustion (n=14)

herbal-cake-separated moxibustion (n=14)

and medication (“Xuezhikang”

a herbal drug for lowering blood lipid

n=13) groups. HLP with AS model was established by using immunologic injury method and high-fat forage feeding. Moxibustion was applied to “Juque” (CV 14)

“Tianshu” (ST 25)

“Xinshu” (BL 15)

“Ganshu”(BL 18)

etc. 30 min every acupoint

once daily

continuously for 6 weeks. The expression of VCAM-1 mRNA in the aorta wall was assayed with reversed transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Results: Compared with control group

the expression of VCAM-1 mRNA in model group was up-regulated significantly(P<0.01); while in comparison with model group

VCAM-1 mRNA expression in herbal-cake-separated moxibustion

direct-moxibustion and medication groups was down-regulated obviously(P<0.01)

suggesting a favorable regulation of the 3 methods on VCAM-1 mRNA expression. No significant difference was found among the 3 treatment groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Moxibustion can down-regulate HLP-induced enhancement of VCAM-1 mRNA expression

which likely contributes to its effect in delaying the development of aortic endothelial AS in rabbits with HLP combined with AS.