Objective: To compare the effects of electroacupuncture(EA) and moxibustion on the degranulated mast cell number and distribution in "Dazhui"(GV 14) region of rats.Methods: Fifteen Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control

EA and moxibustion groups

with 5 cases in each group."Dazhui"(GV 14) was stimulated by EA(3/10 Hz

2-4 V

20 min) or moxibustion(2 cones

20 min)

thereafter

the tissues of GV14 region were sampled

quickly frozen

sectioned(20 μm) and stained with toluidine blue separately for observing the degranulated state of mast cells under microscope.Results: The mast cells(MCs) distributed widely in GV14 region from the dermis

subcutaneous tissue to muscle layer.Compared with control group

MCs of moxibustion group were significantly fewer in the number(P<0.05)

and those degranulated MCs in both EA and moxibustion groups were evidently more in the number(P<0.01)

and the number and percentage of the degranulated MCs in moxibustion group were significantly more than those of EA group(P<0.05)

suggesting that EA and moxibustion could promote the release of granules of mast cells in the stimulated acupoint region

and the effect of moxibustion is stronger.Conclusion: Both EA and moxibustion can promote the degranulation of MCs

and the effect of moxibustion is markedly stronger in potentiating the release of granules from MCs in GV14 in rats.