Objective To observe the effect of electro-warmed needle (EWN

of Inner-Mongolian medicine) on fatigue rats’ behavior

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortex (HPA) axis activity and immune system so as to reveal its neuro-endocrino-immune mechanism. Methods Male SD rats were randomized into control (n=20)

model (n=20) and EWN (n=19) groups. Fatigue model was established by forcing the rat to swim in a water pool till exhaustion

once daily

continuously for 21 days. "Dinghui" (central spot over the bregmatic bone) and "Xinxue" (the center of the depression beneath the 7th thoracic vertebra) were punctured with silver needles which were warmed electrically by using a MLY-Ⅰ Electrical Needle-warming Apparatus

once every 3 days

7 sessions altogether. On the 21st day of modeling

swim-exhaustion duration (SED)

and immobility time and struggle times in tail suspension test were measured. Twenty-four hours after the last swim

the rats’ serum TNF-α

ACTH and corticosterone contents were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Compared with control group

SED

immobility time and struggle times in tail suspension test in model group decreased

increased and lowered respectively and significantly (P<0.01

0.05); while in comparison with model group

the first 2 indexes of EWN group increased and lowered respectively and significantly (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between EWN and model groups in struggle times (P>0.05). Compared with control group

serum TNF-α

ACTH and corticosterone contents in model group increased significantly (P<0.01)

while in comparison with model group

the 3 indexes of EWN group were significantly lower (P<0.01

0.05). Conclusion EWN treatment can reduce fatigue-induced increase of serum TNF-α

ACTH and corticosterone levels

and raise motor ability

suggesting a favorable regulation of HPA axis and immune function after EWN and improvement of fatigue in fatigue rats.