Induction Of HSP70 In Skin Tissues Of Du Meridian After Local Heating On Mingmen Of Rabbits

Objective: Previous research revealed that heat conduction and energy metablism along meridian course were indeed different from that of non-meridian regions in living body . This study is to investigate the content changes of Heat-shock Proteins 70 (HSP70) in skin tissues of rabbits on Du Meridian after local heating on Mingmen (Du 4),compared with the control points on both side of the meridian, thus to explore the possibility of HSP70 involvement in the regulatory function of meridians and provide a clue for exploring the material basis of meridians .Methods: 16 healthy New Zealand male rabbits were randomed into two groups . Heating group (11 animals): the rabbits were anesthetized by introperitoneal injections of 3% pentobarbital sodium . The dorsa hair of the rabbits was shaved and removed before local heating on Mingmen (Du 4) .The skin temperature of Mingmen (Du 4) was remained between 39C--42C for 45 minutes during heat treatment , then the skin tissues were biopsied for immunohistochemical staining to measure the content changes of HSP70 at Mingmen (Du 4) , Yaoyangguan (Du 3) , their respective control points 2.5cm on both sides of Du Meridian , in addition, a remote non-specific control point lcm beside Zusanli (ST36) was selected. Non-heating group (5 animals): similar detection of HSP70 at the same points on the rabbits was performed after introperitoneal anesthesia without local heating. Compare the content of HSP70 in skin tissues of Mingmen (Du 4), Yaoyangguan (Du 3) and theirrespective control points in both groups with statistical significant test.Results: 1. In heating-group,The content of HSP70 was significantly increased in the skin tissues of Mingmen (Du 4) and Yaoyangguan (Du 3) after heating treatment, compared with animals in non-heating group. Besides, the increase of HSP70 in Yaoyangguan (Du 3) bared no relation to the local skin temperature in this study .2. In heating-group, the increase of HSP70 in skin tissues of Mingmen (Du 4) and Yaoyangguan (Du 3) was significantly higher than their respective control points 2.5cm aside.Conclusions: Local heating on Mingmen (Du 4) of rabbits can lead to the significant increase of HSP70 in skin tissues of Mingmen (Du 4) and Yaoyangguan (Du 3) on Du Meridian , compared with their respective control points . This result provides a clue for exploring the material basis of meridians . The increase of HSP70 in the skin tissues of Yaoyangguan(Du 3),which has no obvious relationship with local skin temperature ,may be due to some factor that can transport along the meridian . Whether the deeper tissues along meridian course and the zang-fu organs associated with meridians have similar response towards heat treatment, which happened in skin tissues remains to be investigated .