[Effects of moxibustion on cerebral cortical nitric oxide level and nitric oxide synthase activity in aging mice].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the anti-aging effect of moxibustion of "Zusnali" (ST 36) and "Xuanzhong" (GB 39) in D-galactose induced aging mice. METHODS: Thirty-three female Kunming mice (3 months old) were randomly divided into model group (n=11), saline control group (n=10), and moxibustion group (n=11). In addition, another 10 female mice (16 months old) were used as the physio-senility control (PSC) group. Senescent mouse model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose (120 mg/kg x d(-1)) for 42 days. From the 13th day on after the first injection, moxibustion (3 cones/acupoint) was applied to bilateral ST36 and GB39, once every other day for one month. At the end of the treatment, the mice were killed under anesthesia for collecting cerebral cortex and cerebellar cortex separately. NO content and NOS activity were assayed by using nitrate reductase method and chemico-chromatometry respectively after homogenate and centrifugalization. RESULTS: Compared with saline control group, cerebral NO contents and NOS activity in physio-senility group and model group, cerebellar NO content in model group, cerebellar NOS activity in physio-senility and model groups increased considerably (P < 0.05, < 0.01). In comparison with model group, cerebral and cerebellar NO contents and NOS activity of moxibustion group lowered significantly (P < 0.05, 0.01). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion of ST36 and GB39 can significantly suppress aging induced increase of both NO content and NOS activity in cerebral and cerebellar cortical tissues in aged mice, suggesting an effective anti-aging effect of moxibustion.