EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE ON THE HYPOTHALAMUS-PITUITARY-OVARY AXIS IN RATS WITH DYSMENORRHEA

Objective To observe the influence of acupuncture on hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis （HPOA） in rats with primary dysmenorrhea, and to explore its mechanisms. Methods Effects of acupuncture on the concentration level of β-endorphin （β-EP）, hypothalamic hormone （gonadotropin-releasing hormone, GnRH）, pituitary hormone （GnRH receptor GnRH-R, follicle stimulating hormone FSH, luteinizing hormone LH） and ovarian hormone （estrodiol E2, estrodiol receptor ER, progesterone P and progesterone receptor PR） were observed in dysmenorrheic rats. Results After receiving acupuncture treatment, the levels of 13- EP, GnRH, GnRH-R, FSH, LH, E2, ER, P and PR were changed, and this suggested that acupuncture had a regulative action on HPOA in dysmenorrheic rats. Conclusion The mechanism of acupuncture acting on the HPOA with primary dysmenorrhea might be its regulating role to the gonadal hormone of HPOA and its corresponding receptor expression.

Localization of Porcine Neturopetide Y-Y1 mRNA in Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovary Axis during Puberty

[ Objective] To observe the disposition and localization of neturopetide Y-Y1 （ NPY-Y1 ） mRNA in hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary during puberty. [ Methed] Three 60-day-old Sujiang sows weighing 20 kg and three 160-day-old Sujiang sows weighing 80 kg were selected and anaesthetized. The hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary were taken out for preparation of frozen sections. The expression and localization of the NPY-Y1 mRNA in hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis was observed by the in situ hybridization. The PBS was substituted for hybridization solution to set up a control. ~ Result] Positive hybridization signals of the NPY-Y1 mRNA were detected in the hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary at different develop- mental stages, and these signals were stronger in the 60-day-old sows （before the puberty） than in the 160-day-old sows （during the puberty）. E Conclusion] The NPY-Y1 mRNA is distributed in the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis and can regulate reproductive process of sows.

Effects of electroacupuncture at Guanyuan(CV 4)or Sanyinjiao(SP 6)on hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis and spatial learning and memory in female SAMP8 mice

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture(EA) at the Guanyuan(CV 4) or Sanyinjiao(SP 6) acupoints on the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary(HPO) axis and spatial learning and memory in female mice.METHODS: Nine-month-old female mice with senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8(SAMP8)were divided into three groups: the disease model,EA-Guanyuan and EA-Sanyinjiao groups. Concurrently, 9-month old female mice with senescence-accelerated mouse resistance 1(SAMR1)were set as the control model group. The two treatment groups were given the same pattern of EA stimulation. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and Serum estradiol levels in the Hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determinethe HPO axis function level. Spatial learning and memory were assessed by the Morris Water Maze(MWM) test.RESULTS:(a) HPO axis: compared with the control model group, the disease model group displayed a decrease in E2 levels(P < 0.01), and an increase in Gn RH, LH and FSH levels(P < 0.01). E2 levels were increased in EA treatment groups compared with the disease model group(P < 0.05). In contrast,Gn RH and LH and FSH levels were reduced(P <0.05). EA-Sanyinjiao group was superior than EA-Guanyuan group on increasing E2 and declining Gn RH levels(P < 0.01).(b) The MWM test demonstrated that the response latency in the EA-Sanyinjiao treatment group declined from day 2 to day5 compared with the disease model group(P <0.05), whereas the EA-Guanyuan treatment group showed no significant difference.CONCLUSION: EA can regulate hormone(E2, FSH,LH, Gn RH) levels in the HPO axis and the spatial learning and memory ability in female SAMP8 mice. Moreover, this effect may have been more pronounced in the EA-Sanyinjiao group than the EA-Guanyuan group. The underlying mechanism of the EA-induced changes may be related to gonadal hormone shifts in the HPO axis, followed by an improvement in spatial learning and memory.