Abstract: Objective　To investigate the mechanism of moxibustion on hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in neonatal mice. Methods　A total of 55 neonatal ICR mice (aged 7 days) were randomly divided into sham-operated group (Sham group), HI group and moxibustion-treated (MOX) group according to the method of random digital table. Mice in both HI group and MOX group were induced HIE model by ligation of the right common carotid artery combined with hypoxia in a closed transparent chamber. After the model was established, mice in MOX group were given moxibustion treatment by heating Dazhui points 35 min/d, once a day for 3 days. The morphological structure of brain tissue was examined by DAPI staining. The apoptotic cells of brain tissue were detected using TUNEL assay. The expression of caspase-9 was detected by immunofluorescent staining, and the content of caspase-3 was determined by radioimmunoassay. Results　Compared with the Sham group, mice in the HI group showed that the arrangement of brain tissues was loose, and the number of apoptotic cells, the expression of caspase-9 positive cells in brain tissues increased (P＜0.05). Compared with the HI group, mice in the MOX group exhibited that the arrangement of brain tissues was relatively compact, and the number of apoptotic cells, the expression of caspase-9 and the content of caspase-3 in brain tissues decreased significantly (P＜0.05). Conclusion　Moxibustion may decrease caspase-9 expression and caspase-3 content of brain tissues and then reduce apoptosis, thus reducing hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal mice.

Key words: Moxa Stick Moxibustion, hypoxia-ischemia, brain, brain injuries, apoptosis, caspase-9, caspase-3, neonatal mouse