Conclusions
The serum from acupuncture-treated asthmatic rats has an effect on treating asthma in rats, and the mechanism of action may be by regulating the p38 pathway.
Methods
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were challenged using inhalational Ovalbumin (OVA) to establish an asthma model. The acupuncture points (GV14 for Dazhui, bilateral BL12 for Fengmen, and bilateral BL13 for Feishu) were stimulated for asthma relief. The ASMCs isolated from asthmatic rats were incubated in medium containing the serum obtained from asthmatic rats treated with acupuncture. The expression levels of p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK were determined by immunocytochemical and western blot.
Results
ASMCs were successfully isolated and cultured. The 20% acupuncture treatment of asthmatic rat serum had the least effect on the proliferation ability of asthmatic ASMCs. The serum from asthmatic rats treated with acupuncture could decrease the expression of p-p38 MAPK in asthmatic rat ASMCs. Conclusions: The serum from acupuncture-treated asthmatic rats has an effect on treating asthma in rats, and the mechanism of action may be by regulating the p38 pathway.