Objective To observe changes of urinary microprotein

and serum creatinine

urea nitrogen and uric acid levels in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis(FSGS)rats treated by mild moxibustion

so as to explore the mechanism of moxibustion underlying improvement of FSGS.Methods SD rats were randomized into normal control(normal)

sham operation(sham)

model

medication(Losartan)

moxibustion-Shenshu(BL 23)and moxibustion-Geshu(BL 17)groups.The latter two moxibustion groups were further divided into 10 min

20min and 30 min subgroups(n=6in each group/subgroups).The FSGS model was established by unilateral nephrectomy combined with injection of Losartan into the tail vein twice.Mild moxibustion was applied to bilateral BL 17 and BL 23 for 10

20 and 30min

respectively

once every other day

for 12 weeks.The contents of urinary microglobulinα1

micro-albumin

transferring and IgG were assayed using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)

and serum creatinine

urea nitrogen and uric acid contents(indexes of renal function)determined using an automatic biochemical analyzer.The pathological changes of the kidney tissue was observed by using a microscope after periodic acid schiff(PAS)staining.Results No significant differences were found between the normal control and sham groups in the levels of all the urinary and serum indexes(P>0.05)and pathological changes of the renal tissues.Compared with the normal control group

the contents of urinary microglobulinα1

micro-albumin

transferrin and IgG

and serum creatinine

urea nitrogen and uric acid were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01).Following medication and moxibustion

the contents of the aforementioned 7indexes in the Losartan group

and urinary microglobulinα1

micro-albumin

transferrin and IgG

and serum creatinine levels in the moxibustion BL 23-20 min and 30 min groups

and the micro-albumin and transferrin contents in the BL-17 10 min group and IgG level in the BL-23 10 min group

the serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels at the 3time-points of both moxibustion BL 23 and BL 17 groups

and serum uric acid in the moxibustion BL 23 30 min

and BL17 20 and 30min groups were all considerably downregulated(P<0.05

P<0.01).The therapeutic effects of moxibustion 30 min were notably better than moxibustion 10 min in reducing urinary microglobulinα1

micro-albumin

transferring and IgG levels(P<0.05

P<0.01).Results of PAS staining showed that the injury of the renal tissue as the endothelial and mesangial cellular proliferation

collagen proteinosis

interstitial fibrosis

etc were relatively milder in the Losartan and moxibustion 20 and 30min groups.Conclusion Mild moxibustion may reduce proteinuria

and improve the kidney function and pathological changes in FSGS rats

and longer duration of moxibustion is better in achieving therapeutic effect.