Objective To observe the effect of warm-needle moxibustion on the gastric mucosal injury caused by anti-rheumatic dose of Aspirin.Methods Forty SD rats were equally randomized into blank group

model group

warm needling group and Omeprazole(for relieving peptic ulcer) group

with 10 rats in each.The rats were forced to undergo 12 hours' fasting and 4 hours' water-deprivation before the experiments.Normal saline(10 mL/kg) was given to the rats in the blank group.Gastric mucosa lesion model was established by intragastric infusion of aspirin(420 mg/kg).Warm needling was applied to "Zhongwan"(CV 12)

"Xiawan"(CV 10)

"Zusanli"(ST 36) and "Neiguan"(PC 6) for 30 min

once a day for 7 days.The rats of the Omeprazole group were fed with Omeprazole(10 mg/100 g body weight) once a day for 7 days.According to Guth's method

the ulcer index(UI) of the gastric mucosa was calculated following killing the rats.The activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA) in the serum and gastric mucosa were detected with hydroxylamine method and thiobarbituric acid method

respectively.Results Compared with the blank group

the gastric UI

MDA levels of both serum and gastric mucosa in the model group were increased obviously(P<0.01)

while serum and gastric mucosal SOD activity in the model group were decreased considerably(P<0.01).In comparison with the model group

the gastric UI

and both serum and gastric mucosal MDA contents in the warm needling group and Omeprazole group were down-regulated significantly(P<0.01)

whereas both serum and mucosal SOD activity in the warm needling group and serum SOD activity in the Omeprazole group were up-regulated significantly(P<0.01).Comparison between the warm needling group and Omeprazole group showed that the UI

both serum and gastric mucosal SOD activity

and serum MDA level of the former group were evidently higher than those of the Omeprazole group(P<0.05)

but gastric mucosal MDA level of the warm needling group was apparently lower than that of the Omeprazole group(P<0.05).Conclusion Warm-needle moxibustion can reduce the gastric lesion(ulcer) caused by aspirin in the rat

which may be closed associated with its effects in up-regulating both serum and gastric mucosal SOD activity and down-regulating both serum and gastric mucosal MDA levels.