Effects of Electro-Acupuncture on Ovarian P450arom, P450c17[alpha] and mRNA Expression Induced by Letrozole in PCOS Rats

Hyperandrogenism is a core factor in the series of reproductive and endocrine metabolic disorders involved in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Abnormalities in enzymatic activity and the expression of ovarian granular cell layer P450arom and theca cell P450c17[alpha] can lead to an atypical environ...

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Published in:PloS one 2013-11, Vol.8 (11), p.e79382
Main Authors: Sun, Jie, Jin, Chunlan, Wu, Huangan, Zhao, Jimeng, Cui, Yunhua, Liu, Huirong, Wu, Lingxiang, Shi, Yin, Zhu, Bing
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acupuncture
Cytochrome P-450
Estradiol
Immunohistochemistry
Letrozole
Messenger RNA
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Testosterone
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Summary:Hyperandrogenism is a core factor in the series of reproductive and endocrine metabolic disorders involved in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Abnormalities in enzymatic activity and the expression of ovarian granular cell layer P450arom and theca cell P450c17[alpha] can lead to an atypical environment of local ovarian hormones, including excessive androgen levels. Rat models prepared with letrozole exhibit similar endocrine and histological changes to those that occur in human PCOS. We used such a model to study the role of electro-acupuncture (EA) in regulating ovarian P450arom and P450c17[alpha] enzymatic activity and mRNA expression in PCOS rats. Female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats aged 42 days were randomly divided into 3 groups (control, PCOS, and PCOS EA) consisting of 10 rats each. The PCOS and PCOS EA groups were administered a gavage of 1.0 mg/kg.sup.-1 of letrozole solution once daily for 21 consecutive days. Beginning in the ninth week, the PCOS EA group was administered low-frequency EA treatment daily for 14 consecutive days. After the treatment, we obtained the following results. The estrous cycles were restored in 8 of the 10 rats in the PCOS EA group, and their ovarian morphologies and ultrastructures normalized. The peripheral blood measurements (with ELISA) showed significantly decreased androgens (i.e., androstenedione and testosterone) with significantly increased estrogens (i.e., estrone, estradiol) and increased P450arom with decreased P450C17[alpha]. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting methods showed enhanced expression of ovarian granular cell layer P450arom as well as decreased expression of theca cell layer P450C17[alpha]. Fluorescence quantitative PCR methods showed enhanced expression of ovarian granular cell layer P450arom mRNA as well as decreased expression of theca cell layer P450C17[alpha] mRNA. These results may help explain the effects of electro-acupuncture in changing the local ovarian hyperandrogenic environment and improving reproductive and endocrine metabolic disorders in PCOS.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0079382