To investigate the correlation between acupuncture analgesia and immunomodulation by acupunc ture

the splenic natural killer cell cytotoxicity in normal and tumor beared rats was detected

results of which were compared among electro-moxibustion treatment(EM)

EM plus D-phenylalanine and D phenylalanine treatment in acupuncture analgesia responding rats and non-responding rats. The results showed that the NK cytotoxicity was much lower in W256 tumorbeared rats than that in normal group

which was significantly upgraded by electrcrmoxibustion treatment. There existed individual diflerences in analgesic effect in rats(acupuncture analgesia responders and non-responders) by the 2 Hz electro-stimulation at Zusanli(ST 36). Electro-moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) greatly improved the tumorbeared rat's NK cell activity in AA responders

but failed to regulate that in AA non-re sponding rats. The NK cytotoxicity was remarkab1ely improved near to normal level in AA responders and significantly upgraded in AA nonresponders when treated by EM and 250mg/kg D-phenylalanine intraperitoneal injection. 250 mg/kg D-phenylalanine itself did not modulate the NK cell activity. The work indicates that modulation of NK cell activity by moxibustion is related to the rat's individual dif ferences in acupuncture analgesic effect. Acupuncture analgesia does affect the regulation of NK cyto toxicity by moxibustion