Effect of Acupuncture at Points of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang on Serum Inflammatory Factors in Rabbit Models of Cervical Spondylosis

Objective: Based on the theory of “Taiyang governs tendons”, to explore the effect of acupuncture at points of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang on the expression of serum inflammatory factors in rabbit models of cervical spondylosis. Methods: Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, and a treatment group, with 10 rabbits in each group. The models of cervical spondylosis in the model group and treatment group were established by long-term head-down flexion combined with cold-damp stimulation. After modeling, the treatment group received acupuncture at three points (Kunlun, Weizhong, and Feishu) on the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, once a day for 20 minutes each time, for 14 consecutive days; the model group and blank group received no therapeutic intervention. After the intervention, cardiac blood was collected from all rabbits to detect the expression levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Meanwhile, cervical muscle tissue was collected, stained with HE, and the morphological changes of the posterior cervical muscle tissue in each group were observed under an optical microscope. Results: After modeling, the levels of inflammatory factors in the serum of rabbits in the model group and treatment group were significantly increased compared with those before modeling, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01). After intervention, the serum inflammatory factors in the treatment group decreased significantly compared with those in the model group, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture at points of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang in rabbit models of cervical spondylosis can reduce the serum levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6.