Study on the antipyretic effect of pushing Tianheshui in young rabbits: focus on the α-MSH-mediated cAMP/PKA/NF-κB signaling pathway

To explore the antipyretic effect and partial mechanism of the pushing Tianheshui manipulation on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fever in young New Zealand rabbits.

Thirty 50-day-old New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned to five groups, including a normal group, a model group, a Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) group, a Tuina control group, and a drug group, with 6 rabbits in each group. All groups except for the normal group received LPS injections through the marginal ear vein to induce fever. One hour post-modeling, the Tuina and Tuina control groups received pushing Tianheshui manipulation and pushing manipulation on the medial middle of the hind limbs, respectively, administered every hour for a total of 3 interventions. The drug group was given acetaminophen oral liquid via gavage. Anal temperature was recorded every 30 min for 4.0 h to monitor temperature changes among groups. At 4.0 h post-modeling, hypothalamus samples from each group were analyzed using Western blotting (WB) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to measure the relative expression levels of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA), nuclear factor-αB p65 (NF-κB p65), and interleukin (IL)-1β proteins and their mRNAs.

Compared to the model group, the Tuina group showed a significant reduction in the anal temperature from 3.5 h to 4.0 h post-modeling (P<0.05). The Tuina control group did not show a significant temperature reduction from 0.5 h to 4.0 h post-modeling (P>0.05). The drug group exhibited a significant temperature reduction from 1.5 h to 4.0 h post-modeling (P<0.05). At 4.0 h post-modeling, compared to the model group, the Tuina group showed significantly increased relative expression of α-MSH and MC4R proteins and mRNAs (P<0.05) and significantly decreased relative expression of cAMP, PKA, NF-κB p65, and IL-1β proteins and mRNAs in the hypothalamus tissue (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in these parameters in the Tuina control group compared to the model group (P>0.05).

Pushing Tianheshui manipulation demonstrated a significant antipyretic effect, potentially linked to point specificity. Its mechanism may involve the α-MSH-mediated cAMP/PKA/NF-κB pathway.