Endocrine Abstracts

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders affecting reproductive women. Treatments with Chinese herbal mixtures (HM) and electro-acupuncture (EA) have been proven efficient in clinic. This study evaluated the peripheral and central effects of HM and EA in dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced PCOS rats. The female Wistar rats were divided into control (C), control with placebo (CP), DHT-induced PCOS model (PCOS), PCOS model exposed to herbal mixture (PCOS+HM) and EA (PCOS+EA) groups. At age 3 week, DHT or DHT placebo pellets were inserted to slow release. From 10 week of age, PCOS+HM group were continuously intragastric administrated with the herbal mixture (1 ml/100 g BW, twice a day) while PCOS EA rats received 2-Hz EA (30 min, once a day, five times/week), totally 4 weeks. The results showed that PCOS rats presented with increased body weight, disturbed estrus cycles, cysts follicles and disordered level of steroid hormone, whereas these were restored both in HM and EA group. Interestingly, the fat depots and muscles of rats in EA group are significantly reduced, while the HM is mainly effect the weight of uterus and ovaries. Moreover, HM and EA also reduced the elevated hypothalamic androgen receptor (AR) protein expression and GnRH-immunoreactive (GnRH-IR) in medial preoptic area (MPO) and the ventro medial hypothalamus (VMH) compared with PCOS rats by immunohistochemistry. Therefore, we suggested that there might be differentially particular emphasis of HM and EA on endocrinology and metabolism of PCOS rats.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This work was supported, however funding details unavailable.