[Effects of acupuncture on granulocyte apoptosis and expressions of apoptosis-associated genes in the ovary of perimenopausal rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the mechanism of acupuncture for treatment of perimenopausal syndrome.


METHODS
The rats of perimenopausal syndrome were randomly divided into 3 groups, including an acupuncture group treated with acupuncture, a medication group with Gengnian'an, and a perimenopausal control group, with young rats used for a control group. Granulocyte apoptosis and expressions of Bcl-2 and Fas proteins in the ovary of the rat were detected.


RESULTS
Granulocyte apoptosis increased significantly (P < 0.01), expression of Bl-2 proteins decreased significantly (P < 0.01) and expression of Fas proteins increased significantly (P < 0.01) in the ovary of perimenopausal rats as compared with the young rats; after acupuncture treatment, granulocyte apoptosis decreased significantly (P < 0.05), expression of Bel-2 proteins increased significantly (P < 0.05) and expression of Fas proteins decreased significantly (P < 0.01); after treatment of Gengnian'an, granulocyte apoptosis did not significantly change (P > 0.05), expression of Bcl-2 prteins increased significantly (P < 0.05) and expression of Fas proteins decreased significantly (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture can inhibit granulocyte apoptosis, up-regulate expression of Bcl-2 proteins and down-regulate expression of Fas proteins in the ovary of the perimenopausal rat.
Ma
Xiao-peng
XP
Shanghai Acupuncture-Moxibustion & Meridian, 200030 Shanghai, China. pengpengma@163.com
Dai
Ming
M
Wu
Huan-gan
HG
Shi
Zheng
Z
Zhao
Cui-ying
CY
Hong
Xian
X
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D047648:Perimenopause; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000032:analysis*
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D019014:fas Receptor