OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of lit-moxa stimulating acupoint Guanyuan(CV 4) on lactic acid and super-oxide dismutase(SOD) in skeletal muscle after exercise exhaustion.METHODS:Twenty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group,exhausted control group,exercise group and moxibustion group using exercise training and mild heating with lit-moxa stick as treatment methods.The exhausted control group,moxibustion group and exercise group received an exhaustive swimming after 20 days of intervention.Swimming exhausted times were recorded.Lactic acid and SOD concentration in soleus muscle were detected and compared between every two groups.RESULTS:The swimming exhausted times of the moxibustion group and the exercise group were significantly increased compare to the exhausted control group(P < 0.05).The lactic acid of the exhausted control group was significantly increased comparing with the normal control group(P < 0.05).The SOD level of the exhausted control group was significantly decreased comparing with the normal control group(P < 0.05),and the SOD level of the moxibustion group and the exercise group were significantly higher than that of the exhausted control group(both,P < 0.05).There was no statistical difference between the moxibustion group and the exercise group.CONCLUSION:With lit moxa stick,heat stimulating acupoint of Guanyuan(CV 4) decreased the levels of lactic acid and SOD in rat's skeletal muscle.