[Effect of moxibustion at "Zusanli"(ST36) on metabolites of gastric tissue in rats with chronic atrophic gastritis based on metabonomics].

To observe the effect of moxibustion at "Zusanli" (ST36) on metabolites of gastric tissue in chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) rats, so as to explore the correlation between Yangming Meridian and stomach based on metabolomics.

Fifty-six SD rats were randomly divided into normal, normal ＋ moxibustion, model and model ＋ moxibustion groups (n＝14 rats/group). The CAG model was established by gavage of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso-guanidine (MNNG) solution and irregular diet for 12 weeks. Moxibustion was applied to ST36 and "Zhongwan" (CV12) for 15 min, once daily for two weeks in the normal＋ moxibustion group and model＋moxibustion group. The histopathological changes of the gastric tissue were observed by H．E. staining. ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy was used to detect gastric tissue metabolites and the data were analyzed using the Chenomx NMR Suite software.

After modeling, the regional gastric tissue showed pale thinner gastric wall, and reduction of regional glands with necrosis and disordered arrangement, epithelial cell exfoliation, lymphocyte infiltration as well as scattered punctate hemorrhage, which was evidently milder in the model ＋ moxibustion group. The metabolites of lactic acid, glutathione, N-acetylaspartate, uridine diphosphate glucose and muscle sugar in the gastric tissue in the model group were increased compared with those in the normal group (P<0.05), and the metabolites of leucine, betaine, phosphorylcholine, and uracil were decreased (P<0.05). The glutathione, N-acetylaspartate, phosphorylcholine and uracil in the model＋moxibustion group were significantly reversed relevant to the model group (P<0.05). The inositol in gastric tissue were significantly increased (P<0.05), 3-hydroxybutyric acid, serine and uridine diphosphate glucose were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the normal ＋ moxibustion group than in the normal group.

Moxibustion has a good efficacy in regulating some metabolic substances such as glutathione, N-acetylaspartic acid, choline phosphate and uracil of CAG rats, suggesting a specific relationship between the Stomach Meridian and the stomach.