Influence of scarring moxibustion on serum melatonin and neuropeptide Y expressions in the insomnia model rats 瘢痕灸对失眠模型大鼠血清褪黑素及神经肽Y含量表达影响的研究

To explore the influence of scarring moxibustion on the changes of serum melatonin (MT) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expressions in the insomnia model rats. A total of 40 SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a scarring moxibustion group, an embedding needling group and a mild moxibustion group, 8 rats in each group. The intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) was adopted to establish the insomnia model rats and the corresponding interventions were given, consecutively for 6 days. Separately, before modeling and the first intervention as well as before sample collection, the body weight was measured and the serum was collected in the insomnia model rats. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of serum MT and NPY. Compared with the blank group, the body weight of rat in the model group was lower (P < 0.01) and the levels of MT and NPY were lower in the model group (both P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, in the scarring moxibustion group, the embedding needling group and the mild moxibustion group, the body weight and the levels of MT and NPY of the insomnia model rats were all higher (all P < 0.05). Compared with the embedding needling group and the mild moxibustion group, the body weight and the levels of MT and NPY the insomnia model rats were all higher in the scarring moxibustion group (all P < 0.05). In comparison between the embedding needling group and the mild moxibustion group, there were no statistical differences in the body weight and the levels of MT and NPY (all P > 0.05). The regulation mechanism of sleep-wake circadian rhythm may be related to the levels of serum MT and NPY in the insomnia model rats. Scarring moxibustion increases the levels of MT and NPY more effectively and displays the effect in the intervention as compared with embedding needling and mild moxibustion in the insomnia model rats.