Study On The Effect Of Acupoint Application To Interfere Airway Remodeling In Bronchial Asthma

Objective: to study the mechanism of acupoint application therapy in treating bronchial asthma by interfering the airway remodeling, in order to provide an new method in preventing and treating asthma.Methods: the models of airway remodeling were established according to the experience of the previous experiments and the records from the literatures. Guinea pigs were selected as the experimental animals which were assigned randomly into model group, acupoint application group, steroid group and control group. The airway remodeling animal models were established by long-term repeated inhalation of ovalbumin spray. Guinea pigs in the control group inhaled normal saline for contrast. In the meantime of inducing asthma, the animals in the acupoint application group receive the application of herbal paste made from Mahuang (Herba Ephedrae), Xixin (Herba Asari), Gansui (Radix Kansui), Yanhusuo (Rhizoma Corydalis), Baijiezi (Semen Sinapis Albae) and Shengjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens) on Dazhui (DU14), Feishu (BL13), Pishu (BL20) and Shenshu (BL23). Animals in the steroid group received injection of Dexamethone in the meantime of inducing asthma. The whole experiment last for 8 weeks in which there were 6 weeks for spraying ovalbumin to induce asthma and treatment. The time to induce asthma, the duration of the asthma attack and the difficulty of respiration were recorded in the beginning and the end of the treatment. After the treatment, the pathological changes in the airwayand the lung tissues were observed under microscope. The Ultrastruture of the airway was observe with electron microscope. Diagram analysis system was applied to analyze the changes in the interior perimeter airway, airway areas, smooth muscle areas, airway thickness. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of TGF β₁, EGF, FN, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the airway and the lung tissues in different groups and the difference in the four groups was analyzed.Results: 1. the influence of acupoint application on the asthma attack in the asthmatic guinea pig models: after repeated and continuous stimulation to induce asthma attack, the time to induce attack in model group, treatment group and dexamethone group all prolonged, and the duration of attack reduced and the symptoms relieved. Acupoint application can shorten the time of inducing asthma, reduce the duration of the asthmatic attack and relieve the severity of the asthmatic attack. There were statistical difference comparing with the model group (P<0. 01).2. The influence on the pathological morphology and diagram analysis to the asthmatic guinea pig models after acupoint application:After 6 weeks of inducing asthma by inhaling ovalbumin, the bronchial asthmatic guinea pig models were successfully established. Through the observation of microscope, the damage in the Epithelium was mild, secretion in the airway was less, the thickening of the airway walls was not obvious, and the hyperplasia of the smooth muscles, collagen fibers and glands and dexamethone group were undistinguished in the guinea pigs in the acupoint application group and dexamethone group. The diagram analysis showed that the areas of the airway wall, airway wall thickness, smooth muscle areas of the middle and small airways in the acupoint application group and dexamethone group were less than those in the model group while the difference had statistical difference (P<0.01) . But the areas of the airway wall, airway wall thickness, smooth muscle areas of the bigger airways in the acupoint application group, dexamethone group and model group had no statisticaldifference (P>0. 05) .3. the influence of acupoint application onn the expression of Growth factors and Fibronectin(FN) in asthmatic guinea pigs: after inducing asthma with ovalbumin for 6 weeks, the expression of TGFβ1 and FN in the lung tissue and the bronchial walls in model group were higher than that in the control group, which had statistical significance (P<0. 01). Comparing with the model group, the expression of TGF β1 and FN in the lung tissues and the bronchial wall in the acupoint application group and dexamethone group was lower which had statistical significance (P<0. 05). The expression of EGF in the bronchial wall and lung tissues in the model group, control group, acupoint application group and dexamethone group had no statistical significance(P>0. 05).4. The influence of acupoint application on the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the airway of asthmatic guinea pigs: Comparing with that of in the control group, the expression of MMP-9 in the lung tissues and bronchial ways in the model group was higher, which had statistical significance (P<0. 05). Comparing with that in the model group, the expression of MMP-9 in the lung tissues and bronchial walls in the treatment group and dexamethone group had no statistical difference (P>0. 05). The expression of TIMP-1 in the lung tissues and bronchial walls in the model groups was higher than that in the control group which had statistical significance (P<0.01). The expression of TIMP-1 in the lung tissues and bronchial walls in the treatment group and dexamethone groups was lower than that in the model group which had statistical difference (P<0. 05).5. The influence of acupoint application on the ultrastruture of bronchi epithelium of asthmatic guinea pigs: the main manifestations of the ultrastruture of Bronchi epithelium in guinea pigs in the model groups included: damage of the epithelium cilia of the bronchi, disarrangement of the epithelium cilia, damage of the desmosome connection and the formation of cavum between epithelium. Swelling of the margins of the karyons membranes of epithelium. The space between double karyons membranes enlarges. The goblet cells in the...