Effects of acupuncture on the levels of serum estradiol and pituitary estrogen receptor beta in a rat model of induced super ovulation

Publication date: Available online 5 February 2018 Source:Life Sciences Author(s): Haiyang Fu, Jianhua Sun, Yong Tan, Huifang Zhou, Wanli Xu, Junling Zhou, Dong Chen, Cong Zhang, Xuanxuan Zhu, Ying Zhang, Xiaoliang Wu, Zhaoqing Xi Aims Acupuncture is frequently recommended as a complementary therapy for infertility. However, whether acupuncture can prevent early ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome has not been examined and its potential mechanisms are not well understood. Main methods Forty rats were randomized into four groups: Control, Ovarian Stimulation Model, Acupuncture, and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). Serum estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pituitary ER mRNA and ERβ expression were detected by real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. The pathology of rat ovaries were observed by light microscopy. Key findings We observed significantly lower estradiol levels in the Acupuncture group than in the Model group and increased LH levels in the HCG group than in Model and Acupuncture groups. Testosterone and FSH levels were significantly lower in the Acupuncture group than in the HCG group. Western blotting showed significantly lower pituitary ERβ expression in the Model group than in the Control group and higher expression in the Acupuncture group than in the Model group. Real-time PCR showed lower pituitary ER mRNA e...
Source: Life Sciences - Category: Biology Source Type: research