Exploring the effect of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation on premature ovarian insufficiency rats based on XIAP and apoptosis
SHUAI Zhen-hong
XIANG Shan
LI Tian-feng
LI Xue-mei
Abstract：Objective This study explores the potential mechanism of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimula-tion(TEAS)in regulating ovarian function in a rat model of premature ovarian insufficiency(POI),focusing on XIAP and related apoptotic factors.Methods Fifty-four female Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into a control group(n=15)and a model group(n=39).The POI model was induced by administering tripterygium glycosides for 14 days via gavage in the model group,while the control group received normal saline.After modeling,three rats were sacrificed to assess the efficacy of the model by examining ovarian morphology.The successful model rats(n=36)were randomly divided into a model group(n=12),a TEAS group(n=12),and a Western medicine group(n=12),with interventions lasting four weeks.The TEAS group received electronic acupuncture at the Sanyinjiao,Guanyuan,and Shen-shu acupoints,while the Western medicine group was given estradiol valerate solution orally.ELISA was used to measure serum follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)and estradiol(E2)levels,TUNEL assays assessed ovarian tissue apoptosis,and Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the protein levels of Bax,Bcl-2,Caspase-3,and XIAP.Results POI modeling was validated by decreased body weight,prolonged or disordered estrous cycles,endocrine disruption,and abnormal ovarian morphology.Following treatment,body weight and ovarian index were significantly higher in the TEAS and Western medicine groups than in the model group(P＜0.05),and the estrous cycle was restored.Compared with the control group,the model group showed decreased serum E2,Bcl-2,XIAP,and Bcl-2/Bax ratio(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01)and increased FSH,Bax,Caspase-3 protein expression,and apoptosis rate(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Com-pared with the model group,both the TEAS and Western medicine groups exhibited significantly elevated serum E2,in-creased Bcl-2,XIAP,and Bcl-2/Bax levels in ovarian tissues(P＜0.05),and reduced FSH,Bax,Caspase-3,and apoptosis rate in ovarian tissues(P＜0.05).Conclusion TEAS can regulate hormone levels and reduce ovarian cell ap-optosis in POI rats,potentially through upregulation of XIAP expression.
Keywords：transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulationpremature ovarian insufficiencyX-linked inhibitor of apoptosis proteinapoptosis
Publication Date：2024-11-28
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：9( 1404-1412 )