Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Outpatient Department, Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Meridian, Shanghai 200030, China.
Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Biomed Pharmacother. 2019 May;113:108687. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108687. Epub 2019 Mar 6.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism and follicular arrest. These two characteristics may result from an imbalance between anti-Müllerian hormone and follicle stimulating hormone. Electroacupuncture is effective in improving hyperandrogenism and follicular arrest in PCOS; however, the mechanism is not sufficiently clear. This study aimed to elucidate whether electroacupuncture in PCOS is exerted by regulating an imbalance of anti-Müllerian hormone and follicle stimulating hormone. In this study, a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome was treated with low-frequency electroacupuncture at acupoints (CV-3 and CV-4). To observe the mechanism of electroacupuncture in PCOS, we first observed the estrous cycle. We then observed ovarian morphology by hematoxylin-eosin staining and evaluated levels of testosterone, estradiol, P450arom, follicle stimulating hormone and its receptor, and anti-Müllerian hormone and its receptor by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blotting, double immunofluorescence assay and real-time PCR. Our results showed that in 80% of rats in the electroacupuncture acupoints group, their estrous cycle recovered, ovarian morphology significantly improved, testosterone level significantly decreased, and levels of estradiol and P450arom significantly increased in peripheral serum after 14 consecutive days of treatment (P < 0.01). The expression of anti-Müllerian hormone and anti-Müllerian hormone type II receptor decreased (P < 0.05), whereas the expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptor increased (P < 0.05). These results indicated that electroacupuncture improved hyperandrogenism and follicular arrest by decreasing the excessive expression of AMH to regulate FSH and AMH imbalance in granulosa cells in PCOS.
多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）的特征是高雄激素血症和卵泡阻滞。这两个特征可能是由于抗苗勒管激素（AMH）和卵泡刺激素（FSH）之间的失衡引起的。电针对改善 PCOS 的高雄激素血症和卵泡阻滞是有效的；然而，其机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在阐明电针对 PCOS 的作用是否是通过调节 AMH 和 FSH 的失衡来实现的。在这项研究中，使用低频电针对多囊卵巢综合征大鼠模型的穴位（CV-3 和 CV-4）进行治疗。为了观察电针对 PCOS 的作用机制，我们首先观察了动情周期。然后通过苏木精-伊红染色观察卵巢形态，并通过酶联免疫吸附试验、蛋白质印迹法、双免疫荧光法和实时 PCR 评估外周血清中睾酮、雌二醇、P450arom、FSH 及其受体、AMH 及其受体的水平。我们的结果表明，在电针穴位组的 80%大鼠中，其动情周期恢复，卵巢形态显著改善，治疗 14 天后外周血清中睾酮水平显著降低，雌二醇和 P450arom 水平显著升高（P<0.01）。AMH 和 AMH II 型受体的表达减少（P<0.05），而 FSH 受体的表达增加（P<0.05）。这些结果表明，电针通过降低 AMH 的过度表达来改善高雄激素血症和卵泡阻滞，从而调节 PCOS 颗粒细胞中 FSH 和 AMH 的失衡。
