Effects Of Electro-acupuncture On The Expression Of Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Y And Ghrelin In Pubertal Rats With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

AIMS:This study aimed to explore the role of hypothalamic metabolic factors in adolescent polycystic ovary syndrome（PCOS）and assess the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture（EA）on adolescent PCOS.MAIN METHODS:Dihydrotestosterone（DHT）was used to induce rat models of adolescent PCOS.Adolescent 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 6^th–7^th week.In the experiment,we observed the estrous cycle of rats from their 4^th–7^th week and measured their fasting blood glucose（FBG）at the end of the 7^th week.At the end of the experiment,we observed any changes in ovarian morphology;detected levels of insulin,leptin,HDL-C,LDC-C,TC,and TG in serum;and evaluated the expression of galanin-like peptides（GALP）,galanin（GAL）,neuropeptide Y（NPY）,and ghrelin（GHRL）and their receptors in the hypothalamus.KEY FINDINGS:EA significantly improved estrous cycle disorders and the ovarian polycystic morphology in adolescent rats with PCOS,but SA only improved disorders of the estrous cycle.The serum levels of FBG,insulin,TC,and LDL and the hypothalamic expression of NPY increased significantly,while the serum level of HDL and the hypothalamic expression of ghrelin and NPY2R decreased significantly in the model group.After treatment with EA,the serum levels of FBG,TC,and LDL and the hypothalamic expression of NPY,ghrelin,and NPY2R had been reversed.Interestingly,SA only reversed the serum levels of TC and DL and the hypothalamic NPY2R expression.In addition,we found that Gn RH neurons expressed NPY2R,and kisspeptin neurons expressed ghrelin receptors and leptin receptors in the arcuate nucleus（ARC）.SIGNIFICANCE:Electroacupuncture improves the reproductive and metabolic symptoms of PCOS in adolescent rats by regulating hypothalamic NPY and ghrelin levels.