Effects of long-snake moxibustion on the HPA axis and liver 11β-HSD1 expression in rats with kidney yang deficiency

Kidney yang deficiency syndrome (KYDS) is one of the main syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is caused by the deficiency of kidney yang energy and insufficient warmth, resulting in a range of cold symptoms. Modern research shows that dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis leads to decreased glucocorticoid (GC) levels, which is one of the main pathological causes of KYDS, resulting in decreased resistance to stimuli in people with yang deficiency and increased susceptibility to diseases [1,2]. 11β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), a member of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family of enzymes, can convert biologically inactive GC into biologically active GC through its reductase function, thereby affecting the function of the HPA axis [3,4]. 11β-HSD1 is highly expressed in the liver which is the major site for its reductase action [5].

Long-snake moxibustion, also known as governor vessel moxibustion and spreading moxibustion, is a method of applying moxibustion along the governor vessel on the back. It has strong effects in warming and supplementing yang qi, strengthening the vital essence, harmonizing yin and yang, and warming and promoting qi and blood circulation. Our previous clinical research has shown that long-snake moxibustion can effectively improve the symptoms of individuals with yang deficiency, enhance serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT), and regulate the function of the HPA axis [6,7], although its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, this study examined the effects of long-snake moxibustion on rectal temperature, spontaneous activity count, serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and CORT, and 11β-HSD1 protein levels in rats with kidney yang deficiency. The aim was to explore the impact of long-snake moxibustion on the HPA axis function and 11β-HSD1 in rats with kidney yang deficiency. It is hypothesized that these findings will lay the foundation for revealing the underlying mechanism of long-snake moxibustion in improving KYDS.

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