Objective To observe the effect of moxibustion on cardiac function and the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)

Bcl-2 associated X(Bax)

Fas

Fas ligand(FasL)in cardiomyocytes of chronic heart failure(CHF)rats

so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in preventing and treating CHF.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal control

model

moxibustion

Captopril and moxibustion + Captopril(M+C)groups(n=12 rats/group).The CHF model was established by intraperitoneal injection of Adriamycin(ADR

from 1 to 4 mg/kg

once every other day for 15 days).Mild moxibustion was applied to bilateral"Feishu"(BL 13)and "Xinshu"(BL 15).Rats of the Captopril group was treated by gavage of Captopril suspension(5 mg/mL

25 mL/kg)

and those of the M+C group treated by the combined two methods.All the treatments were given once a day for 3 weeks.The general conditions and behaviors of rats were observed.The left ventricular mass index(LVMI)and right ventricular mass index(RVMI)were detected for assessing the cardiac performance.Morphological changes of myocardium were observed by HE staining.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the concentrations of Btype natriuretic peptide(BNP)and precursor N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-pro BNP)in the serum.The expression levels of Bcl-2

Bax

Fas and FasL of the left ventricle of heart were detected by Western blot.Results After modeling

the pathological changes of myocardium(as myocardial cell swelling with vacuoles

myocardial fibre breakage

etc.)were obvious

the LVMI

RVMI

serum BNP and NT-pro BNP concentrations

and myocardial Bax

Fas and FasL protein expression levels were significantly increased in the model group compared with the normal group(P<0.01)

while the expression level of Bcl-2 was significantly down-regulated(P<0.01).Following the interventions

the myocardial injury was reduced

both LVMI and RVMI

serum BNP concentration and Bax

Fas and FasL expression levels in the three treatment groups

and serum NT-pro BNP concentration in the moxibustion and M+C groups were significantly decreased(P<0.05

P<0.01)

while the myocardial Bcl-2 protein levels in the three treatment groups were significantly increased relevant to the model group(P<0.01).Comparison among the three treatment groups showed that the effects of moxibustion+ Captopril were significantly superior to those of simple moxibustion and simple Captopril in suppressing CHF-induced increased expression of myocardial Bax

Fas and FasL

and in lessening CHF-induced decrease of Bcl-2 level(P<0.05

P<0.01).No significant differences were found among the three treatment groups in down-regulating LVMI and RVMI

and serum BNP content(P>0.05).Conclusion Moxibustion can reduce myocardial injury and improve cardiac function in CHF rats

which may be related to its effects in down-regulating the expression of myocardial Bax

Fas and FasL proteins

and up-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 protein to inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis.