Huang Jin, Tang Cheng-Lin, Liao Dong-Mei
College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2020 Aug 25;45(8):640-4. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.190744.
To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of autophagy mediated PI3K/AKT pathway and sex hormones in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) rats, so as to explore the mechanisms underlying improvement of PCOS anovulatory infertility.
Six-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, model and EA groups (=10 per group). The PCOS model was established by gavage of Letrozole solution (1.0 mg/kg), once daily for 21 consecutive days. Then, EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to the "Sanyinjiao"(SP6) and "Taichong"(LR3) for 20 min, once a day for 14 successive days. The morphological changes of the ovary were observed after H.E. staining. The contents of serum androgen (T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) were detected by ELISA. The expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT) and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) in the ovary tissues were detected by Western blot.
Compared with the control group, the levels of serum T, LH and AMH contents, and ovarian LC3 Ⅱ expression and the ratio of LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰwere significantly increased (<0.05), and the expression levels of PI3K and AKT proteins were considerably decreased in the model group (<0.05). After EA intervention, the levels of serum T, LH, AMH, and the ratio of LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰwere considerably down-regulated (<0.05), and those of PI3K and AKT were obviously up-regulated in the EA group (<0.05).
EA intervention can reduce serum T, LH and AMH contents, and the ratio of ovarian LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ and up-regulate ovarian PI3K and AKT in PCOS rats, which may contribute to its effect in improving anovulatory infertility by suppressing autophagy.
观察电针（EA）对多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）大鼠自噬介导的PI3K/AKT通路及性激素表达的影响，以探讨其改善PCOS无排卵性不孕的作用机制。
将6周龄雌性Sprague-Dawley大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组和电针组（每组10只）。采用来曲唑溶液（1.0mg/kg）灌胃建立PCOS模型，连续21天，每天1次。然后，将电针（2Hz，1mA）施加于“三阴交”（SP6）和“太冲”（LR3）20分钟，连续14天，每天1次。苏木精-伊红（H.E.）染色后观察卵巢形态变化。采用酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）法检测血清雄激素（T）、黄体生成素（LH）和抗苗勒管激素（AMH）含量。采用蛋白质免疫印迹法检测卵巢组织中磷脂酰肌醇3激酶（PI3K）、蛋白激酶B（AKT）和微管相关蛋白1轻链3（LC3）的表达水平。
与对照组比较，模型组血清T、LH、AMH含量及卵巢LC3Ⅱ表达和LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ比值显著升高（P<0.05），PI3K和AKT蛋白表达水平显著降低（P<0.05）。电针干预后，电针组血清T、LH、AMH及LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ比值显著下调（P<0.05），PI3K和AKT显著上调（P<0.05）。
电针干预可降低PCOS大鼠血清T、LH、AMH含量及卵巢LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ比值，上调卵巢PI3K和AKT，可能通过抑制自噬发挥改善无排卵性不孕的作用。
