[Effect of acupuncture on ovarian function in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency based on kisspeptin/GPR54 pathway].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of acupuncture on ovarian function in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) based on kisspeptin/G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54) pathway.

METHODS

Thirty female SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group (10 rats) and a modeling group (20 rats). In the modeling group, POI model was established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide. The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group and an acupuncture group, 10 rats in each group. In the acupuncture group, "Zhibian" (BL54)-toward-"Shuidao"(ST28) acupuncture was delivered once a day, 6 days a week with 1-day interval, for consecutive 3 weeks. The changes of estrous cycle and ovarian tissue morphology were observed by HE staining; the ovarian wet weight was measured and the ovarian index was calculated; the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2) in the serum, as well as the levels of FSH and LH in the pituitary gland were detected by ELISA; the positive expression of kisspeptin in the hypothalamus and ovary was detected by immunohistochemistry; the mRNA and protein expression of kisspeptin, GPR54 and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the hypothalamus, as well as that of kisspeptin and GPR54 in the ovary were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS

Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the rate of disordered estrous cycle was increased (P<0.01), the ovarian wet weight and ovarian index were decreased (P<0.01); the serum E2 level was reduced (P<0.01), the serum FSH and LH levels were increased (P<0.01), the pituitary FSH and LH levels were increased (P<0.01); the ovarian tissue structure was damaged, the number of normal follicles of various grades was reduced, while the number of atretic follicles was increased; the positive expression of kisspeptin in the hypothalamus and ovary was increased (P<0.01); the mRNA and protein expression of kisspeptin, GPR54,GnRH in the hypothalamus and that of kisspeptin, GPR54 in the ovary were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the acupuncture group, the rate of disordered estrous cycle was decreased (P<0.01), the ovarian wet weight and ovarian index were increased (P<0.01); the serum E2 level was increased (P<0.01), the serum FSH and LH levels were decreased (P<0.01), the pituitary FSH and LH levels were decreased (P<0.01); the ovarian tissue structure was improved and the number of atretic follicles was reduced; the positive expression of kisspeptin in the hypothalamus and ovary was decreased(P<0.01); the mRNA and protein expression of kisspeptin, GPR54, GnRH in the hypothalamus and that of kisspeptin, GPR54 in the ovary were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture can regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis by modulating the key factors of the kisspeptin/GPR54 pathway, thereby improving ovarian function in POI rats.