Objective To investigate the effect of moxibustion of"Zusanli"(ST36)on levels of inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus and hypothalamus regions of rats with fatigue

so as to reveal its anti-fatigue mechanism.Methods Twentyfour male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control

fatigue model

and moxibustion groups

with 8 rats in each group.The fatigue model was established by chronic weight-loaded exhaustive swimming.During modeling

the rats in the moxibustion group were given moxibustion(3 moxa cones

about 8 min in duration)at bilateral ST36

once every other day for11 times in total.The duration of exhausted swimming was observed

and ELISA was used to measure the contents of interleukin-1β(IL-1β)

interleukin-6(IL-6)

tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)

and interferon gamma(IFN-γ)in the hippocampus and hypothalamus tissues.Results The duration of exhausted swimming was obviously prolonged on day 14 and 21 after moxibustion intervention relevant to the model group(P<0.05

P<0.01).The contents of IL-1β

IL-6 and TNF-αin the hippocampus were significantly increased in the model group than in the normal group(P<0.01)

and that of hippocampal IL-6 was considerably decreased in the moxibustion group than in the model group(P<0.05).The content of hippocampal IFN-γwas significantly lower in the model group than in the normal group(P<0.05)and was increased mildly after moxibustion(P>0.05).No significantly changes were found in the levels of hypothalamic IL-1β

IL-6

TNF-αand IFN-γafter modeling and moxibustion(P>0.05)

and in the levels of hippocampal IL-1β

TNF-αand IFN-γafter moxibustion(P>0.05).Conclusion Moxibustion can significantly down-regulate hippocampal IL-6 content in fatigue rats

which maybe contribute to its effect in alleviating fatigue.Further studies need being conducted to identify this conclusion.