艾灸對於照過γ射線鼷鼠的白血球及淋巴器官的影響

Effects of Moxibustion on Leukocyte Counts and Some Lymphoid Organs in γ Ray-Irradiated Mice

本研究之目的在探討艾灸(moxibustion)對於照過γ射線鼷鼠之白血球計數及一些製造白血球的器官如脾及胸腺的影響。本研究選取6-8週之ICR種系的雄性鼷鼠180隻分成三組。一組為正常對照組，一組為輻射對照組，僅接受4 Gy γ射線的全身照射，另一組為實驗組，在接受4 Gy的γ射線後接受艾灸處理，於輻射後的第二天起，每天灸一次，每灸十次，每次艾灸6壯(chung)，每壯艾粒如米粒大小。艾灸的部位選擇鼠脊柱(vertebral column)兩旁的穴位，相當於人的膀胱經上的腎兪(B23)，大腸兪(B25)，關元兪(B26)，小腸兪(B27)和膀胱兪(B28)等穴位，於輻射後的第1，5，12，19，26及33天分6次犧牲動物，每次每組各6至8隻鼷鼠。檢查項目包括白血球總數及其分類計數、體重、脾及胸腺之重量及其相對重量。本研究結果顯示：在接受4 Gy的γ射線後，鼷鼠的白血球總數及淋巴球、中性球及單胞球的計數均明顯的下降。而且，動物的體重、脾和胸腺的相對重量均明顯降低。然而輻射後再接受十次艾灸的處理者，其白血球總數見提早恢復。然而僅接受輻射處理的動物（B組），其白血球總數的恢復較慢，至輻射後第33天，仍未恢復正常。其淋巴球與中性球計數的降低與恢復與白血球總數的變化相似。然而單胞球計數，雖然C組的恢復較B組者為快，但在輻射後第26天，兩組均已恢復正常。結果並顯示：中等劑量的γ射線對於鼷鼠的體重，以及脾及胸腺的相對重量均有明顯的抑制作用。然而經用艾灸處理，其體重的恢復較快，至輻射後第26天已恢復正常，而B組者至輻射後第33天才恢復正常。脾重及相對脾重於輻射後均見顯著下降，但C組的恢復較B組者為快。至輻射後第33天，前者已恢復正常，而後者卻較低。至於胸腺的重量及其相對重量的降低與恢復，與脾臟的改變情形相似。但至輻射後第33天，B、C兩組者均較正常者為低，而C組者已接近恢復正常。因此，艾灸鼷鼠膀胱經背部的穴位，對其曾因輻射而降低的白血球總數及其分類計數，以及脾臟和胸腺之重量能幫助其提早恢復正常。

The present study was carried out to determine the effects of moxibustion on blood leukocyte counts and lymphoid organs in the γ-irradiated mice. One hundred and eighty male mice (ICR strain), 6-8 weeks old, were used. They were divided i+nto three groups: normal control; radiation control, treated with 4 Gy of γ-irradiation only; and experimental group, received 10 times of once daily moxibustion after γ-irradiation. Ten animals in each group were sacrificed on days 1, 5, 12, 19, 26 and 33 post-irradiation to measure the leukocyte counts and its differential counts, body weight, splenic and thymus weight. Counts of total leukocyte, lymphocyte, neutrophil, and monocyte in the treated mice decreased rapidly after γ-irradiation and then recovered gradually. The relative splenic and thymus weight also decreased significantly. The recovery of counts of leukocyte, lymphocyte, neutrophil and monocyte, and the weight of spleen and thymus in the animals treated with moxibustion after γ-irradiation were faster than that of mice received with γ-irradiation alone. Therefore, moxibustion on back points of urinary bladder meridian in γ-ray-irradiated mice was able to reverse the decreased total leukocyte count, the changed leukocyte differential counts, and the weights of spleen and thymus.