Objective To observe the influence of preventive acupuncture(PA)and preventive moxibustion(PM)at "Guanyuan"(CV 4)on the immune function in natural climacteric rats.Methods A total of 160 female SD rats were randomized into control

PA and PM groups

the former one group was further divided into 10 month(mon)

12 mon

14 mon and 16 mon subgroups

and the later two groups were further divided into 12 mon

14 mon and 16 mon subgroups

with 16 rats in each.In addition

other 16 female SD rats aged 3.5 mon were used as the young control(YC)group."Guanyuan"(CV 4)was punctured with an acupuncture needle and the needle was retained for 20 min

or given with one ignited moxa-cone from the age of 10 mon on.The treatment was conducted twice every week

8 weeks altogether.The expression of HSP 70 and HSP 70 mRNA of the spleen tissue was detected by using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization respectively

and serum IL-2 and TNF-α contents were assayed by using radio-immunoassay.Results In comparison with YC group

1)the expression of spleen HSP 70 and HSP 70 mRNA increased significantly in 10 mon control(mon-C)

12 mon-PM and 12 mon-PA groups

and 14 mon-PA group(only HSP 70 mRNA)(P<0.05

P<0.01);2)HSP 70 expression decreased remarkably in 14 mon-C

16 mon-C and 16 mon-PA groups(P<0.05

P<0.01);3)IL-2 contents decreased evidently in 12 mon-C and 14 mon-C groups

and TNF-α contents increased obviously in 12 mon-PM

12 mon-PA and 16 mon-C groups(P<0.05).In comparison with the corresponding same age control groups

HSP 70 and HSP 70 mRNA expression increased significantly in 12 mon-PM and 12 mon-PA groups

14 mon-PM and 16 mon-PM(HSP 70 only)

14 mon-PA(HSP 70 mRNA only)groups(P<0.05

P<0.01);IL-2 level of 12 mon-PM group

and TNF-α contents of 12 mon-PM and 12 mon-PA groups increased markedly(P<0.05

P<0.01).No significant differences were found between PM and PA groups in most different age groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Both preventive acupuncture and preventive moxibustion can upregulate the expression of spleen HSP 70 and HSP 70 mRNA and serum IL-2 and TNF-α levels

which may contribute to their effects in enhancing the immune function in menopausal rats.