Objective
To investigate the mechanisms of moxibustion in the treatment of the colonic fibrosis in ulcerative colitis (UC) by observing the colonic fibroblast (CFB) synthesizing and secreting collagen in ulcerative colitis fibrosis rats.
Methods
A rat model of ulcerative colitis fibrosis was established by immunological methods using human colonic mucosa as antigen adding local stimulation. The rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, herb-partition moxibustion group, mild-warm moxibustion group and western medicine group (SASP group). Herb-partitioned moxibustion group and mild-warm moxibustion group treated by herb-partitioned moxibustion and mild-warm moxibustion respectively on Qihai (CV 6) and Tianshu (ST 25, bilateral) points. SASP group fed with salicylazosulfapyridine. Colonic fibroblasts from all the rats were isolated and cultured and the effects of moxibustion on the colonic fibroblast synthesizing and secreting type I, III, and IV collagen were observed.
Results
The supernatant of cultured CFB from UC rats could stimulate the CFB of normal rats to secrete type I, III, and IV collagens. The supernatant from rats treated by herb-partitioned moxibustion and mild-warm moxibustion inhibited the secretion of type I, III, and IV collagens of CFB in normal rats. And the western medicine group also had some inhibiting effects on the type I and III collagens.
Conclusion
Moxibustion can regulate the functions of CFB synthesizing and secreting type I, III, and IV collagens in ulcerative colitis fibrosis rats.