[The effects of moxibustion at "zusanli" point on serum endocrine hormones of rats].

The effects of moxibustion at "Zusanli" acupoint on serum endocrine hormones of male Wistar rats were studied by measured serum values of TSH, T3, T4, FSH, LH, testosterone and insulin with radioimmunoassay, 40 male rats were randomly divided into two groups, experiment group and control group, 20 rats each group. In the experiment group, the animals were given a moxibustion at "Zusanli" acupoints of both sides of rats 8:00-9:00 am, 10 min/side per day for 7 days. The control group was given nothing. All of both groups were killed and got serum at same time. The results indicate that the moxibustion can increase significantly serum value of insulin (p less than 0.01) and decrease prominently serum value of T4 (p less than 0.01), but no marked difference was found in FSH, LH, testosterone, TSH and T3. It is suggest that the raise of insulin may have relations with the effects of the moxibustion on neuro-endocrine system and improving microcirculation of pancreas gland, and that the drop of T4 may be caused by the moxibustion to inhibit the function of thyroid gland.