Objective To observe the effect of herbal-cake-separated moxibustion on blood lipid levels and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ(PPARγ)and scavenger receptor B 1(SR-B 1)proteins and genes in liver of hyperlipidemia atherosclerosis rabbits

so as to explore its mechanism underlying anti-atherosclerosis formation.Methods Forty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into normal control

model

moxibustion and Simvastatin groups(n=10 rabbits in each group).The hyperlipidemia atherosclerosis model was established by high cholesterol diet and propylthiouracil for12 weeks.Herbal-cake-separated moxibustion was applied to"Juque"(CV 14)

and bilateral"Tianshu"(ST 25)

"Fenglong"(ST 40)(point group 1)

and bilateral"Xinshu"(BL 15)

"Ganshu"(BL 18)and "Pishu"(BL 20)(point group 2).The two groups of points were used alternately.Simvastatin(1.96 mg·kg

(-1)

·d(-1)·d

(-1)

)mixed in the forage was given to rabbits of the Simvastatin group.Both moxibustion and medication treatments were given once daily for continuous 4 weeks.Total cholesterol(TC)

triglyceride(TG)

low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)levels in plasma were detected by using an automatic biochemistry analyzer.The expression levels of PPARγand SR-B 1 proteins and genes in the hepatic tissue were determined by Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

separately.Results After modeling

plasma TC

TG and LDL-C levels in the model group were significantly increased(P

<

0.01)

and the levels of plasma HDL-C and hepatic PPARγand SR-B 1 protein and mRNA expression were obviously down-regulated relevant to the normal group(P

<

0.01).Compared with the model group

plasma TC

TG and LDL-C levels were significantly decreased(P

<

0.01)

and plasma HDL-C and hepatic PPARγand SR-B 1 protein and mRNA levels were significantly up-regulated in the two treatment groups(P

<

0.01

P

<

0.05).Conclusion Herbal-cake-separated moxibustion can regulate blood lipid levels and suppress hyperlipidemiainduced decrease of expression of hepatic PPARγand SR-B 1 proteins and genes in hyperlipidemia atherosclerosis rabbits

which maybe contribute to its action in anti-atherosclerosis through promoting reversal of cholesterol.