Regulatory mechanism of electroacupuncture on hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in oligospermic rats
- VernacularTitle:电针调控少弱精子症模型大鼠"下丘脑-垂体-睾丸轴"的作用机制
- Author:
Zhenning ZHAO
1
;
Kaiying LI
;
Nan YANG
;
Wenjing SUN
;
Xiaoge WEI
;
Jing MU
;
Huisheng MA
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: electric acupuncture; oligoasthenospermia; hypothalamic-pituitary-testis axis; adenine; sex hormone; engineered tissue construction
- From: Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(26):5563-5571
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
- Abstract: BACKGROUND:Electroacupuncture can treat oligoasthenospermia by stimulating hormone synthesis and release in the hypothalamus,pituitary gland and testis,but its mechanism is complex,and the efficacy of electroacupuncture is closely related to the idea of acupoint compatibility.OBJECTIVE:To explore whether electroacupuncture therapy can improve the function status of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis by adjusting the level of serum related sex hormones in rats,so as to treat adenine-induced oligoasthenospermia in rats.METHODS:Fifty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into blank,model,electroacupuncture,L-carnitine,and non-meridian and non-acupuncture point groups,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the blank group,the rats in the other four groups were given 200 mg/(kg·d)adenine via intragastric administration for 28 days to establish oligoasthenospermia models.After modeling,the rats in the electroacupuncture group were given electroacupuncture treatment at Zhongji,Guanyuan,Zusanli and Sanyinjiao acupoints,the non-acupoint group was selected for electroacupuncture treatment at three non-acupoint points,and the rats in the L-carnitine group were given oral infusion of L-carnitine,once daily,for 28 continuous days.After treatment,the kidney and testicular organ coefficients were calculated.Sperm count,survival rate and motility rate were determined.Pathological morphological changes of kidney and testicular tissues were observed.Serum sex hormones testosterone,gonadotropin releasing hormone,follicle stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone,estradiol,statin B and prolactin levels were detected in rats of each group.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The renal organ coefficient in the model group was higher than that in the blank,electroacupuncture and L-carnitine groups(P＜0.05),the renal organ coefficient in the non-acupoint group was higher than that in the electroacupuncture group(P＜0.05),and there was no significant difference in the testicular organ coefficient among all groups(P＞0.05).(2)Compared with the blank group,sperm count,survival rate and motility rate were decreased in the model group(P＜0.05);compared with the model group,sperm count,survival rate and motility rate were increased in the electroacupuncture group and L-carnitine group(P＜0.05);compared with the non-acupoint group,sperm count,survival rate and motility rate were higher in the electroacupuncture group(P＜0.05).(3)Hematoxylin-eosin staining results indicated that the kidney and testicular tissues of rats in the model group were severely damaged,while damage to kidney and testicular tissues was less in the electroacupuncture group and L-carnitine group compared with the model group,but severer in the non-acupoint group than the electroacupuncture group.(4)Compared with the blank group,the levels of testosterone,gonadotropin releasing hormone,and inhibin B in the serum of rats in the model group were decreased(P＜0.05),and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone,estradiol,and prolactin were increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the levels of testosterone,gonadotropin-releasing hormone,and inhibin B in the serum of rats in the electroacupuncture group and L-carnitine group were increased(P＜0.05),and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone,estradiol,and prolactin were decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the non-acupoint group,the levels of testosterone,gonadotropin-releasing hormone,and inhibin Bin the serum of the rats in electroacupuncture group were increased(P＜0.05),and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone,estradiol,and prolactin were decreased(P＜0.05).To conclude,electroacupuncture at Zhongji,Guanyuan,Zusanli,and Sanyinjiao acupoints can effectively treat oligoasthenospermia by regulating the functional state of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in rats.
