Cai-Rong Zhang1, Ji-Li Deng2, Wei-Na Zhu3, Ming-Xing Miao4, Wei-Wei Shen5, Sheng-Jun Cao6, Yong Tang2. 1. Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210001, China. 2. Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075. 3. Central Laboratory of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210001. 4. China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210000. 5. Shangfang Community Health Service Center, Dongshan Street, Jiangning District of Nanjing, Nanjing 211100. 6. Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of moxibustion for tripterygium-induced premature ovarian failure (POF) and its underlying mechanisms in rats. METHODS: Forty-five female SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, POF model and moxibustion groups (n＝15/group). The POF model was induced by intragastric administration of Triptolide (40 mg/kg), once daily for 6 weeks. From the 4th week after modeling, moxibustion was given at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and bilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) for 10 min, once daily for 3 weeks. Pathological changes of ovary tissues were determined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The serum estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) contents were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of phosphatidyl inositol 3- kinase (PI 3 K), protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) proteins of the ovarian tissue were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: After modeling, HE staining showed that the numbers of ovarian follicles and follicular granulocytes and corpora luteum layers were decreased, and the number of corpora atretica was increased in the model group. The content of serum E2 was markedly decreased and those of serum LH, FSH, IL-6 and IL-1 β were markedly increased in the model group (P<0.01), and the expression levels of ovarian p-PI 3 K, p-Akt and p-mTOR were markedly increased after modeling relevant to the control group (P<0.01). Following moxibustion, the pathological damage of ovarian tissue was improved, the contents of serum LH, FSH, IL-6, IL-1 β, and the levels of p-PI 3 K, p-Akt and p-mTOR proteins in the ovarian tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the content of serum E2 was markedly increased (P<0.05) in comparison with the model group. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion can improve POF in POF rats, which may be related to its actions in inhibiting PI 3 K/Akt/mTOR signaling, down-regulating serum IL-6, IL-1 β, and regulating serum hormones.
OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of moxibustion for tripterygium-induced premature ovarian failure (POF) and its underlying mechanisms in rats. METHODS: Forty-five female SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, POF model and moxibustion groups (n＝15/group). The POF model was induced by intragastric administration of Triptolide (40 mg/kg), once daily for 6 weeks. From the 4th week after modeling, moxibustion was given at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and bilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) for 10 min, once daily for 3 weeks. Pathological changes of ovary tissues were determined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The serum estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) contents were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of phosphatidyl inositol 3- kinase (PI 3 K), protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) proteins of the ovarian tissue were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: After modeling, HE staining showed that the numbers of ovarian follicles and follicular granulocytes and corpora luteum layers were decreased, and the number of corpora atretica was increased in the model group. The content of serum E2 was markedly decreased and those of serum LH, FSH, IL-6 and IL-1 β were markedly increased in the model group (P<0.01), and the expression levels of ovarian p-PI 3 K, p-Akt and p-mTOR were markedly increased after modeling relevant to the control group (P<0.01). Following moxibustion, the pathological damage of ovarian tissue was improved, the contents of serum LH, FSH, IL-6, IL-1 β, and the levels of p-PI 3 K, p-Akt and p-mTOR proteins in the ovarian tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the content of serum E2 was markedly increased (P<0.05) in comparison with the model group. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion can improve POF in POF rats, which may be related to its actions in inhibiting PI 3 K/Akt/mTOR signaling, down-regulating serum IL-6, IL-1 β, and regulating serum hormones.
Entities:
Keywords:
Moxibustion; Phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase / protein kinase B/ mammalian target of rapamycin protein (PI 3 K/Akt/mTOR); Premature ovarian failure; Pro-inflammatory cytokines; Serum hormones