Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on renal Fas and Fas ligand(FasL expression in contrast-induced nephropathy(CIN)diabetic rats

so as to explore its protective mechanisms.Methods A total of 40 diabetic male SD rats were randomly divided into control

model

acupuncture

moxibustion and combined treatment(acupuncture combined with moxibustion)groups(n=8 rats in each group).The diabetic model was established by i.p.injection of Streptozotocin(60 mg/kg)

followed by regular raising for 9 weeks.Then

the manual acupuncture

moxibustion or acupuncture plus moxibustion at "Sanyinjiao"(SP6)"Shenshu"(BL23)and"Pishu"(BL20)was given to the diabetic rats

once daily for 7 days.On the 8 th day

these diabetic rats received i.p.injection of compound Meglumine Diatrizoate Injection(10 mL/kg)for establishing CIN model.Then

the venous blood specimens were collected for detecting contents of serum urine nitrogen(BUN

with urease method)and creatinine(Scr

with picric acid method).The kindey tissues were exteriorized for detecting nitricoxide synthase(NOS

with oxidation-reduction method)

malondialdehyde(MDA

with thiobarbituric acid method)

superoxide dismutase(SOD

with xanthine oxidase technique)and total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC

with colorimetric technique).The expression levels of Fas and FasL in the kidney tissues were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot separately.The histopathological and ultrastructural changes of the kidney were observed under microscope(after H.E.staining)and transmission electron microscope

respectively.Results Following modeling and compared with the control group

the BUN

Scr and renal MDA contents

and Fas and FasL mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly increased(P<0.01

P<0.05)

and renal NOS

SOD and T-AOC levels considerably decreased in the model group(P<0.05).After the interventions and compared with the model group

serum BUN and Scr contents and renal Fas mRNA and protein expression levels in both acupuncture group and combined treatment group

BUN in the moxibustion group

and renal MDA content and FasL mRNA and protein expression levels in the 3 treatment groups were obviously down-regulated(P<0.05

P<0.01)

while renal NOS in the 3 treatment groups

and SOD and T-AOC levels in the combined treatment group were considerably up-regulated(P<0.01

P<0.05).The effects of the combined treatment were significantly superior to those of simple acupuncure and simple moxibustion in down-regulating serum BUN contents

and Fas and FasL mRNA and protein expression levels

and in up-regulating renal NOS

SOD and T-AOC activity(P<0.05).No significant differences were found between the acupuncture and moxibustion groups in down-regulating serum BUN

Scr and renal MDA contents

and Fas and FasL mRNA and protein levels

as well as in up-regulating NOS content(P>0.05).H.E.staining showed lobular changes of glomeruli

many local necrosis and vascular degeneration in the model group

and transmission electron microscope displayed thickened basement membrane of the glomerular blood loop

many vacuoles in the cytoplasm of renal tubular epithelial cells

severely swollen mitochondria with disordered

broken or disappeared cristae

and some apoptotic cells in the model group

which were relatively milder in the combined treatment group.Conclusion Joint application of acupuncture and moxibustion can reduce the oxidative stress and renal injury in CIN diabetic rats

which may be associated with its function in down-regulating the expression of renal Fas and FasL genes and proteins.Acupuncture and moxibustion has a synergistic effect.