Discussion on the Protection of Aortic Endothelial Function Based on the Rho/ROCK Signaling Pathway of Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats After Grain-sized Moxibustion

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of decreasing blood pressure by moxibustion with seed-sided moxa cone of spontaneously hypertensive rat(SHR) and the protection of vascular endothelial function ，and discuss its possible mechanism. METHODS SHRs were randomly divided into a model group and a moxibustion group. WKY rats were regard as bland group.Rats in model group and bland group did not received moxibustion. Rats in the moxibustion group received moxibustion therapy. Observe the blood pressure，the content of nitric oxide (NO) in serum and aortic morphology change of all groups.Samples of aorta were isolated for Western blotting and the qPCR to identify Rho A，ROCK1 and Rho A，ROCK1 mRNA expression levels. RESULTS Compared with model group， moxibustion group had a decreasing of blood pressure，aortic Rho A，ROCK1 and Rho A ，ROCK1 mRNA expression ，while the NO content in serum increased obviously，the differences were statistically significant（P<0.05）And the aortic intima hyperplasia was not obvious ， just only part of it shed. CONCLUSION Moxibustion with seed-sided moxa cone can reduce the blood pressure of SHR， protect its vascular endothelia function.The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the expression of Rho/ROCK signal pathway.