OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxa-burning heat stimulating acupoints of Liangmen(ST 21)and Zusanli(ST 36) on the proliferation and apoptosis signaling proteins in rats with stress-induced gastric ulcer.METHODS: Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups: negative control(NC), ulcer control(UC), acupoints of stomach meridian(ASM), and acupoints control(AC). The acute gastric ulcer model was established by bound and water immersion.Rats in NC and UC groups didn't receive any moxa-burning heat stimulating treatment, while rats in ASM and AC groups were treated with buringmoxa heat stimulating the acupoints of Liangmen(ST 21) and Zusanli(ST 36) and their controlled points, respectively. Rats in all groups were sacrificed after 12 consecutive days treatment. The ulcer index was evaluated by using Guth's method.The expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), apoptotic protease activating facter-1(Apaf-1), Caspase-3, p21 activated kinase 1(PAK1),extracellular regulated protein kinases 2(ERK2),phosphorylated ERK2(p ERK2), phosphoinositide3-kinase(PI3K) and RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase(Akt) in gastric mucosa was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).RESULTS: Compared with UC group, the ulcer index of ASM and AC groups decreased, and the injured gastric mucosa was improved, the expression of TNF-α, Apaf-1 and Caspase-3 in gastric mucosa was significantly reduced(P < 0.05), while the ex-pression of PAK1, ERK2, p ERK2, PI3 K and Akt in gastric mucosa was significantly increased(P < 0.05).And ASM showed better effect than AC group(P <0.05).CONCLUSION: Moxa-burning Heat stimulating of Liangmen(ST 21) and Zusanli(ST 36) could promote the recovery of gastric mucosal lesion probably by inhibiting cell apoptosis and promoting cell proliferation in stress-induced gastric ulcer.
