Wang Yi-Qin, Chen Ling-Yu, Mo Bin-Qian, Wu Xiao-Xian, Liu Yu, Xiao Yao, Tang Biao
State First-class Discipline Construction Project Group, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410028, China.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2019 Jul 25;44(7):481-5. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.180508.
To observe the effect of acupoint catgut embedding on the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 in the uterine tissue of primary dysmenorrhea (PD) rats, so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in improving PD.
Forty female SD rats were randomly divided into control, model, acupoint catgut embedding and medication groups (＝10 in each group). The PD model was established by subcutaneous injection of Estradiol Benzoate (0.5 mg/rat on the 1 and 10day, and 0.2 mg/rat from 2 to 9day) and Oxytocin (2 U/rat, i．p.). The catgut embedding was applied to bilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) and "Guanyuan" (CV4) on the 1 and 5 day after modeling. Rats of the medication group were treated by intragastric perfusion of Fenbid (0.8 mL/rat, 125 mg/100 mL) once daily for 10 days. The body writhing times in 30 min were recorded. The histopathological changes of the uterine were observed by H．E. staining. Western blot was used to detect the expression of NLRP 3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 in uterine tissues.
The body writhing times were notably more in the model group than in the control group (<0.01), and obviously fewer in both medication and catgut embedding groups than in the model group (<0.05, <0.01). After modeling, the rats' endometrium was extensively exfoliated and got swelling, the histopathological score and the expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 proteins in the uterus tissue were evidently increased in the model group relevant to the control group (<0.01). Following the treatment, the degree of endometrial exfoliation and edema of the uterus tissue was lightened, the pathological score was significantly reduced (<0.01), and the expression levels of caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 protein in uterus tissue were markedly decreased in both acupoint catgut embedding and medication groups (<0.01, <0.05). The NLRP3 protein expression was significantly decreased in the acupoint catgut embedding group compared with that in the model group (<0.01). The therapeutic effect of acupoint catgut embedding was significantly superior to that of medication in reducing writhing times and down-regulating expression of NLPR3 protein (<0.01). No significant differences were found between catgut embedding and medication in histopathological score, and expression levels of caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 proteins (>0.05).
The acupoint catgut embedding can significantly alleviate the symptoms and pathological damage in PD rats, which may be related to its effect in inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in the uterine tissue.
观察穴位埋线对原发性痛经（PD）大鼠子宫组织中核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域（NOD）样受体蛋白3（NLRP3）炎性小体、白细胞介素（IL）-1β和IL-18表达的影响，以探讨其改善PD的潜在机制。
40只雌性SD大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、穴位埋线组和药物治疗组（每组10只）。采用皮下注射苯甲酸雌二醇（第1天和第10天0.5mg/只，第2至9天0.2mg/只）和催产素（2U/只，腹腔注射）建立PD模型。造模后第1天和第5天对双侧“三阴交”（SP6）和“关元”（CV4）进行穴位埋线。药物治疗组大鼠每日灌胃给予芬必得（0.8mL/只，125mg/100mL），连续10天。记录30分钟内的扭体次数。采用苏木精-伊红（H.E.）染色观察子宫组织病理学变化。采用蛋白质免疫印迹法检测子宫组织中NLRP3、半胱天冬酶-1、IL-1β和IL-18的表达。
模型组扭体次数显著多于对照组（P<0.01），药物治疗组和穴位埋线组扭体次数均明显少于模型组（P<0.05，P<0.01）。造模后，模型组大鼠子宫内膜广泛脱落、肿胀，子宫组织病理学评分及NLRP3、半胱天冬酶-1、IL-1β和IL-18蛋白表达水平均明显高于对照组（P<0.01）。治疗后，穴位埋线组和药物治疗组子宫组织内膜脱落及水肿程度减轻，病理评分显著降低（P<0.01），子宫组织中半胱天冬酶-1、IL-1β和IL-18蛋白表达水平明显降低（P<0.01，P<0.05）。穴位埋线组NLRP3蛋白表达较模型组明显降低（P<0.01）。穴位埋线在减少扭体次数和下调NLPR3蛋白表达方面的治疗效果明显优于药物治疗（P<0.01）。穴位埋线组与药物治疗组在组织病理学评分及半胱天冬酶-1、IL-1β和IL-18蛋白表达水平上无显著差异（P>0.05）。
穴位埋线可显著减轻PD大鼠的症状和病理损伤，其机制可能与抑制子宫组织中NLRP3炎性小体的激活有关。
