Experimental Study Of Natural Perimenopausal Rats Affected HPO Axis EA Sanyinjiao On

Objective:Perimenopausal is an inevitably experience transition phase in each woman’s life from middle age to senescence. But perimenopausal syndrome which contains various kinds of symptoms caused by physiological changes and hormonal disorders has been seriously obstruct the quality of perimenopausal women’s life. It brings suffering to women and their families, and hinder social development. Conventional therapy of modern medicine is hormone replacement therapy(HRT). But the side effects of HRT are often reported. As one kind of safe and effective treatments, acupuncture has been widely used in clinical and achieved significant effects. Its mechanism of action is worthy of further exploration.Electroacupuncture therapy is a kind of therapy which can change electrical energy into mechanical vibrations, thermal, magnetic energy, etc., so as to stimulate acupoints, condition meridians and to treat diseases. It is the combination of traditional medicine and modern technology. In clinical practice, it is liked by the doctors and patients for its convenient, safe and efficient In experimental studies, it has also been widely used because its relatively fixed stimulation parameters are conducive to experimental design and operation.But the choice of its parameters need to follow some scientific basis.Sanyinjiao, an acupoint belongs to the spleen meridian, is the intersection of the three foot-yin meridian. It is the main acupoint to treat gynecological diseases. And it is also a common point to clinical treatment of perimenopausal syndrome. Its mechanism of treatment of perimenopausal syndrome deserves further study.Most previous studies choose ovariectomized rats as the model for perimenopausal. But in this study, natural perimenopausal rats were chosen. By observing the effects of EA Sanyinjiao (SP6) to natural perimenopausal rats, the research purpose of this study was to investigate the regulation mechanism of EA against the disordered hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary(HPO) axis, discuss the mechanism of acupuncture to treat perimenopausal syndrome, and provide reference and basis for clinical point selection.Methods:Female SD rats of3-month-old were set as normal group (n=8). Female SD rats between11and15month old with perimenopausal syndrome examined by vaginal smear were chosen and divided into2groups, the model group (n=8) and the EA group (n=8). Acupiont "Sanyinjiao "(SP6) with both sides of the EA group were chosen to receive electroacupuncture treatment every other day for15times in total, each time for20minutes. Mental condition, hair color and defecation were observed in each group. ELISA was used to determine the levels of GnRH, FSH, LH and E2in the tissues including hypothalamus, hypophysis and ovary of each group. SPSS statistical software was used for analysis.Results:1. General conditions:1) Mental condition:Normal group showed an active, responsive behavior. Most of the model group showed restlessness, with frequent cleaning action. EA group performed less agitation compared with the model group.2)Fur color:Normal group with white and shiny coat. Model group with dim yellow coat color and different degrees of hair removal. EA group coat yellow but shiny still, also with hair removal, but subsided later.3) Stool texture:Normal group quality fine. Model group dry and hard. EA group had a softer quality.2. Assay results:1) Compared with the normal group, E2level of the model group was significantly decreased (P<0.01), the levels of FSH、LH and GnRH increased obviously (P<0.01).2) Compared with the model group, E2level of the EA group was obviously elevated (P<0.05), FSH、LH and GnRH levels declined evidently(P<0.05).3) Compared with the normal group, E2level of the EA group wasstill lower(P<0.05), FSH. LH and GnRH levels were still high(P<0.05).Conclusion:1.The electroacupuncture of "Sanyinjiao"(SP6)could relieve emotional performance of perimenopausal rats such as irritability and anxiety, improve color and growth condition of hair, and probably have an effect of purge.2.The electroacupuncture of "Sanyinjiao"(SP6) could effectively increase estrogen levels in perimenopause rats, inhibit the hypersecretion of hypothalamus and pituitary hormone, and play a positive regulatory role to the disordered function of HPO axis.