Neuronal apoptosis and inflammatory reaction in rat models of focal cerebral ischemia following 40-minute suspended moxibustion

The treatment duration of heat-sensitive moxibustion（approximately 40 minutes on average） is longer than that of traditional suspended moxibustion.The present study investigated expression changes of three inflammatory and apoptosis-associated proteins（inducible nitric oxide synthase,cyclooxygenase-2 and caspase-3） in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model rats following suspended moxibustion for 40 minutes,to explore the mechanisms underlying neuroprotective action of suspended moxibustion.The results indicated that suspended moxibustion at acupoint Dazhui（DU 14） for 40 minutes reduced the cortical expression of caspase-3,cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase proteins of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model rats,as well as decreasing infarct volume and ameliorating the neurological deficit score.Outcomes with 40 minutes of moxibustion were superior to the outcomes after suspended moxibustion for 15 minutes.