Effects of electroacupuncture on the expression of hypothalamic neuropeptide Y and ghrelin in pubertal rats with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Background Polycystic ovary syndrome often starts in puberty, and its pathogenesis is not clear. This study aimed to explore the pathogenesis of pubertal polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and assess the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on pubertal PCOS. Methods Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was used to induce rat models of pubertal PCOS. pubertal rats with PCOS were randomly divided into a model group (M), an electroacupuncture group (EA), and a sham acupuncture group (SA). Age-matched normal rats were regarded as normal controls (N). Rats were treated with EA or SA five times a week for 25 minutes during their 6th–7th week. At the end of the experiment, we observed any changes in ovarian morphology; detected levels of metabolic indices in serum, the hypothalamus and pancreas. Results EA significantly improved estrous cycle disorders and the ovarian polycystic morphology in pubertal rats with PCOS, but SA only improved disorders of the estrous cycle. The serum levels of insulin, neuropeptide Y(NPY) and fasting blood glucose(FBG) increased significantly (both p < 0.01), while the serum levels of ghrelin(GHRL) decreased in the model group (p < 0.01). After treatment with EA, the levels of NPY (p < 0.01) and FBG (p < 0.05) went into decrease, whereas the levels of GHRL (p < 0.05) and insulin (p < 0.01) increased. There was few differences in the hypothalamic expression of galanin (GAL), galanin-like peptide (GALP) and ghrelin receptor(GHSR) between the four groups. The upregulation of NPY mRNA and neuropeptide Y2 receptor(NPY2R) mRNA and the downregulation of GHRL protein and mRNA in the hypothalamus, and the increased expression of NPY and NPY2R as well as the decreased expression of GHRL in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) can be rescued by EA. But, surprisingly, SA seem to make no difference to the levels of FBG and insulin, and the protein expression of ghrelin in the hypothalamus and ARC. Co-expression of kisspeptin and GHSR, and co-expression of gonadotrophin releasing hormone(GnRH) and NPY2R were observed in ARC. No differences were found between groups in protein of GAL, GALP and GHRL expression in the pancreas. Neither EA nor SA can attenuate the upregulated kisspeptin protein expression in the pancreas of PCOS model rats. Conclusions EA and SA improved the symptoms of pubertal PCOS rats, and the mechanism might be associated with regulating hypothalamic NPY and ghrelin levels.

Clinical Efficacy and Experimental Research Progress on Traditional Chinese Medicine Moxibustion Therapy in Ovarian Injury

“…It can improve the disordered estrous cycle, ovarian tissue morphology, and hormone levels of FSH, LH, and E 2 in rats with PCOS. [33][34][35][36] Concurrently, it also has a similar therapeutic effect on the improvement of symptoms in PCOS mice such as C57BL/6J mice and female mice of the Institute for Cancer Research. 37,38 In addition, the mechanism of electroacupuncture improving the symptoms of PCOS rats has also been developed.…”

“…Cong et al 33 also clarified the ability of electroacupuncture to resist the effects of PCOS by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis and autophagy of ovarian granulosa cells. In addition, electroacupuncture can also improve the reproductive characteristics of PCOS rats by regulating hypothalamic neuropeptide Y and growth hormone levels, 34 regulating Alas2-mediated apoptosis and mitochondrial function, 39 and regulating kisspeptin-GnRH/LH pathway through androgen activity attenuation. 35 Chen et al 40 showed that electroacupuncture also had a certain promoting effect on ovarian function and menstrual cycle of POF mice.…”

Galanin-like peptide and its correlation with androgen levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

“…This elevated hypothalamic GnRH output is likely to stem in part from a change of the metabolic state of the body. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), ghrelin (GHRL), galanin (GAL), and galanin-like peptide (GALP) have been proposed as candidates conveying metabolic status to the GnRH neuronal network in animals [8]. GALP is a recently identified hypothalamic peptide, localized…”