Objective To observe the effect of moxibustion on interleukin-6(IL-6)/signal transduction and transcriptional activator 3(STAT3) signaling pathway in the frontal cortex of fatigue rats

so as to reveal its mechanisms underlying alleviation of fatigue. Methods Twenty-one male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control

model

and moxibustion groups(n=7 rats in each group). The fatigue model was established by forcing the rats to have an exhausted swim under load condition

once daily for 21 days. Moxibustion was applied to bilateral "Zusanli"(ST36) for about 15 min

once every other day for 21 days. The level of IL-6 in the frontal cortex was detected by ELISA

and the expression of Janus kinase 2(JAK2)

phosphorylated JAK2(p-JAK2)

signal transduction and transcriptional activator 3(STAT3) and phosphorylated STAT3(p-STAT3) proteins in the frontal cortex was detected by Western blot. Results After modeling

the levels of IL-6 content and p-STAT3 protein expression and ratio of p-STAT3/STAT3 were significantly increased in the model group relevant to the normal control group(P

<

0.01). Follo-wing moxibustion

the duration of load swimming on the 21

(st)

day was significantly prolonged(P

<

0.01)

content of IL-6 and levels of p-STAT3 protein expression and ratio of p-STAT3/STAT3 were significantly down-regulated in the moxibustion group compared with the model group(P

<

0.05). No significant differences were found between the model and control

and between moxibustion and model groups in the expression levels of JAK2

p-JAK2

STAT3 and p-JAK2/JAK2(P

>

0.05). Conclusion Moxibustion intervention can relieve fatigue in fatigue rats

which is associated with its function in inhibiting IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway to reduce inflammatory injury.