Effect of electroacupuncture on anti-Mullerian hormone expression in rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome

ObjectiveTo observe whether the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on improving sex hormone disorders and follicle development is by decreasing the expression of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in rats with experimental polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).MethodsForty rats were randomly divided into four groups, a normal group (NG), a model group (MG), an EA at acupoints group (EAAG), and an EA at non-acupoints group (EANAG), with 10 rats in each group. The rats in the EAAG and EANAG were intervened by EA treatment for consecutive 14 d. Zhongji (CV 3) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were selected as the acupoints in the EAAG, and the tip of the tail and 1 cm up from the tail tip were selected as the non-acupoints in the EANAG. After treatment, the histomorphological changes of the ovary, the levels of aromatase P450 (P450arom), testosterone and estradiol in the ovarian tissues, and the expressions of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and AMH were observed.ResultsAfter treatment, compared with the MG and EANAG, the expression of AMH decreased (P<0.05), the levels of P450arom and estradiol increased significantly, and the level of testosterone decreased significantly (all P<0.01) in the EAAG. Additionally, several normal follicles were present and the number of cystically dilated follicles decreased in the EAAG. Compared with the MG and EANAG, the EAAG obviously had more follicular granulosa cells.ConclusionEA can down-regulate the abnormally increased expression of AMH to improve sex hormone disorders and follicle development in PCOS rats.