Effect of Mongolian warm acupuncture on the gene expression profile of rats with insomnia.

Background: The mechanism of Mongolian warm acupuncture (MWA) for the treatment of insomnia has not been previously reported.

Objective: To investigate the effect of MWA on gene expression profile in the p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA)-induced rat model of insomnia.

Methods: A rat model of insomnia was established and the animals were divided into five groups: control, PCPA (untreated), PCPA+estazolam, PCPA+MA (manual acupuncture), and PCPA+MWA.