Objective To observe the effect of moxibustion of"Zhongwan"(CV12)and "Zusanli"(ST36)on histopathological changes of the gastric mucosa and contents of corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH)and adrenocorticotrophic hormone(ACTH)in the serum

hypothalamus and pituitary tissues in rats with stress-induced gastric ulcer(SGU)

so as to reveal its mechanisms underlying improvement of SGU.Methods A total of 28 male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control

model

moxibustion

and medication groups

with 7 rats in each group.The SGU model was established by water immersion restraint stress for 3 h.Moxibustion was applied to"Zhongwan"(CV12)and bilateral"Zusanli"(ST36)for 20 min

once a day for 5 days

and rats of the medication group were treated by gavage of Omeprazole enteric-coated tablets(0.2 mg/kg)once a day for5 days.The gastric mucosal damage index(ulcer index

UI)was measured to assess the injury severity according to Guths methods.Histopathological changes of the gastric mucosa were determined by H.E.staining.The contents of CRH in serum and hypothalamus and ACTH in serum and pituitary gland tissue were assayed by using ELISA.Results Outcomes of H.E.staining showed gastric mucosal epithelia defect

disordered arrangement of glands

obvious mucosal hyperemia and edema

exudation of a large number of red blood cells

swelling of mucosal cells with necrosis of nuclei in the model group.These situations were relatively milder in the moxibustion and medication groups.After modeling

the UI

and the contents of CRH in the serum and hypothalamus

and ACTH in the serum and pituitary tissue were significantly increased in comparison with the blank control group(P<0.01).Following the intervention

the UI

and contents of CRH in the serum and hypothalamus

and ACTH in the serum and pituitary were all down-regulated in both medication and moxibustion groups relevant to the model group(P<0.05

P<0.01).The therapeutic effect of moxibustion was notably superior to that of medication in down-regulating serum CRH and ACTH(P<0.05).No significant differences were found between the medication and moxibustin interventions in lowering the UI

hypothalamic CRH and pituitary ACTH levels(P>0.05).Conclusion Moxibustion can relieve gastric mucosal injury induced by stress in water immersion restraint stress rats

which may be associated with its effects in down-regulating the levels of CRH and ACTH in se-rum

hypothalamus and pituitary tissues(inhibition of activities of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis).