Treating Effect Of Moxibustion On Experimental Osteoarthritis

Objective: Moxibustion has been used to treat osteoarthritis and achieved certain effect, but its mechanism remains unknown. This study bears the objective of observing the treating effect on experimental osteoarthritis (OA) by moxibustion and exploring its molecular mechanism, and thus , providing theoretic foundation for its clinical application. It serves to provide more in-depth studies of this field.Method: Twenty-four male SD rats (9 months old ) were randomly divided into three groups; the normal group, the moxibustion group, the model group. Rats in the model group and the moxibustion group were legated both femoral veins while rats in the normal group were performed a sham operation. The moxibustion group was treated after 6 weeks till 12 weeks postoperatively . All the rats were executed in 12 weeks postoperatively. The internal femoral condyle was exercised and prepared for Van Gieson (VG) staining to learn the histologic changes and immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of transforming growth factor- β (TGF- (β₁) and type I collagen in articular cartilage. Results: Histologically, in articularly cartilage of the model group and the moxibustion group osteoarthritis-like changes could be seen. The expression of TGF- β₁ and type I collagen was the highest in the model group,moderate in the moxibustion group, lowest in the normal group. Conclusion: Treating OA by moxibustion is effective. One of its probably mechanisms is that moxibustion modulate the over-regulation of TGF- P then inhibits expression of type I collagen and osteophyte formation.