Moxibustion attenuates neurogenic detrusor overactivity in spinal cord injury rats by inhibiting M2/ATP/P2X3 pathway

•Moxibustion prevented the development of detrusor overactivity in SCI rats.•Moxibustion attenuated the expression of M2 muscarinic receptor subtype in the bladder of SCI rats.•The M2 receptor antagonist methoctramine hemihydrate mimics moxibustion-induced improvement of urodynamic parameters and afferent nerve activity, and the muscarinic receptor agonist oxotremorine methiodide reverses the beneficial effect of moxibustion.•Moxibustion reduced the release of ATP and the expression of P2X3 in the M2 receptor-mediated micturition reflex pathway.