PMID- 36650561 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20230120 LR - 20230122 IS - 1757-2215 (Electronic) IS - 1757-2215 (Linking) VI - 16 IP - 1 DP - 2023 Jan 17 TI - Effects of electroacupuncture on the kisspeptin-gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) /luteinizing hormone (LH) neural circuit abnormalities and androgen receptor expression of kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin neurons in PCOS rats. PG - 15 LID - 10.1186/s13048-022-01078-x [doi] LID - 15 AB - BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism, anovulation, and polycystic ovaries. Electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively improve hyperandrogenism and increase ovulation frequency in patients with PCOS. Pieces of suggest that androgen activity in the brain is associated with impaired steroid negative feedback in such patients. Studies have shown that EA regulated androgen receptor (AR) expression and local factor levels (such as anti-Mullerian hormone and inhibin B) in the ovary of PCOS rats. However, few studies have explored the effect of EA on androgen activity in the brain. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of EA on the kisspeptin-gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) neural circuit and sex hormone receptor expression in the hypothalamus of PCOS rats. METHODS: PCOS signs were induced by letrozole administration, and the induced rats were treated with low-frequency EA at Guan Yuan acupoint (CV4). The effect of EA on PCOS-like signs was evaluated by observing changes in the body weight, ovarian quality, ovarian morphology, and serum sex hormone levels in rats. To explore the mechanism of the effect of EA on PCOS-like signs, the neuropeptide content of the kisspeptin-GnRH/LH neural circuit was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA); AR and estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) coexpression on kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin (KNDy) neurons was determined via triple-label immunofluorescence; and protein and mRNA expression of Kiss1, Ar, Esr1, and kisspeptin receptor (Kiss1r) was evaluated via western blotting and Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The results revealed that the estrous cycle of rats in the EA treatment group recovered, and their body and ovary weight reduced; ovarian morphology improved; serum testosterone and LH levels significantly decreased; and kisspeptin, GnRH, and dynorphin levels in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus significantly decreased. Compared with controls, the number of AR/Kiss1-positive cells increased, number of ERalpha/Kiss1-positive cells decreased, and protein and mRNA expression of Kiss1, Ar, and Kiss1r significantly increased in PCOS rats. However, EA treatment reversed these changes and reduced the expression of Kiss1, Ar, and Kiss1r significantly. CONCLUSION: Improvement in the reproductive hallmarks of PCOS rats via EA may be achieved by regulating the kisspeptin-GnRH/LH circuit via androgen activity attenuation. Thus, the results provide an experimental basis for acupuncture as an adjuvant medical therapy on PCOS. CI - (c) 2023. The Author(s). FAU - Xu, Ge AU - Xu G AD - Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China. xg_lb@163.com. AD - Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201210, China. xg_lb@163.com. FAU - Zhao, Xuedan AU - Zhao X AD - Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China. AD - Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201210, China. FAU - Li, Zhihao AU - Li Z AD - Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China. FAU - Hu, Junwei AU - Hu J AD - Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China. FAU - Li, Xu AU - Li X AD - Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China. FAU - Li, Juanjuan AU - Li J AD - Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China. FAU - Chen, Yuelai AU - Chen Y AD - Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China. chenyuelai@163.com. LA - eng GR - 2020013/This study was supported by the Shanghai Leading Talents Training Program ./ PT - Journal Article DEP - 20230117 PL - England TA - J Ovarian Res JT - Journal of ovarian research JID - 101474849 RN - 0 (Androgens) RN - 74913-18-1 (Dynorphins) RN - 0 (Estrogen Receptor alpha) RN - 0 (Gonadal Steroid Hormones) RN - 33515-09-2 (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone) RN - 0 (Kisspeptins) RN - 9002-67-9 (Luteinizing Hormone) RN - 86933-75-7 (Neurokinin B) RN - 0 (Receptors, Androgen) RN - 0 (Receptors, Kisspeptin-1) RN - 0 (RNA, Messenger) SB - IM MH - Animals MH - Female MH - Humans MH - Rats MH - Androgens/metabolism MH - Dynorphins/metabolism MH - *Electroacupuncture MH - Estrogen Receptor alpha/metabolism MH - Gonadal Steroid Hormones MH - Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone MH - *Hyperandrogenism MH - Kisspeptins/metabolism MH - Luteinizing Hormone MH - Neurokinin B/metabolism MH - Neurons MH - *Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/metabolism/therapy MH - Rats, Sprague-Dawley MH - Receptors, Androgen/metabolism MH - Receptors, Kisspeptin-1/metabolism MH - RNA, Messenger/metabolism PMC - PMC9844031 OTO - NOTNLM OT - Androgen receptor OT - Electroacupuncture OT - Gonadotropin releases hormone OT - Kisspeptin OT - Polycystic ovary syndrome COIS- All authors report no conflicts of interest. EDAT- 2023/01/18 06:00 MHDA- 2023/01/20 06:00 PMCR- 2023/01/17 CRDT- 2023/01/17 23:33 PHST- 2022/08/24 00:00 [received] PHST- 2022/12/13 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2023/01/17 23:33 [entrez] PHST- 2023/01/18 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2023/01/20 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2023/01/17 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - 10.1186/s13048-022-01078-x [pii] AID - 1078 [pii] AID - 10.1186/s13048-022-01078-x [doi] PST - epublish SO - J Ovarian Res. 2023 Jan 17;16(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s13048-022-01078-x.