[Effects of combined acupuncture and medicine therapy on the breast tissue and expressions of estrogen receptor subgroups in the rat of hyperplasia of mammary glands].
OBJECTIVE
To study on the inhibitory action of combined acupuncture and medicine therapy on the model rat of hyperplasia of mammary glands and the mechanism.


METHODS
The model rat of hyperplasia of mammary glands were prepared. After modelling, they were randomly divided into an acupuncture group, a Chinese drug group and a combined acupuncture and drug group, a control group and a model group. Except both the control group and the model group, other 4 groups were treated respectively with acupuncture, Chinese drug, combined acupuncture and Chinese drug, and Premormine, once each day, 9 sessions constituting one course. After treatment of 3 courses (30 days), changes of the breast tissue form were observed, and the diameter and the area of the acina cavity were determined and expressions of estrogen receptor subgroups (ERalpha and ERbeta) were detected with immunohistochamical methods.


RESULTS
The diameter and the area of the acina cavity were increased in the model group as compared with those in the normal group (both P < 0.01), and in the treatment group they were decreased as compared with those in the model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)); both acupuncture and Chinese drug could up-regulate the expression of ERbeta and down-regulate the expression of ERalpha.


CONCLUSIONS
Both acupuncture and moxibustion, and Chinese medicine have inhibitory action on hyperplasia of mammary glands in the rat, with the strongest inhibitory action of the combined acupuncture and medicine treatment which is basically close to the level of Premormine. The mechanism is possily related with the up-regulation of ERbeta expression and down-regulation of ERalpha expression.
Liu
Li-Jun
LJ
College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050091, China.
Du
Hui-Lan
HL
Jin
Ya-Ci
YC
Chen
Jing-Wei
JW
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta