title: [Effect of ultrasound stimulation at the acupoint Guanyuan on follicular development in menopausal rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of ultrasound stimulation at the acupoint Guanyuan (CV 4) on follicular development in menopausal rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Menopausal female SD rats were selected by vaginal smear examinations. The rats were subjected to ultrasound stimulation at the acupoint Guanyuan with the output power of 0.1 W, working frequency of 9 MHz, and focal length of 4.5-5 mm. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used to detect the serum estrogen levels of the menopausal rats. The changes in the ovarian tissue histology and the follicle number were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, a 10-day ultrasound stimulation for 10 and 5 min daily at Guanyuan significantly increased the serum estrogen levels and the numbers of primary and secondary follicles (P<0.05) and reduced the number of atretic follicles in the menopausal rats (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound stimulation at the acupoint Guanyuan can increase the estrogen secretion function and promote the development of follicles in menopausal rats.
authors: Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-founded by Chongqing and MOST, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, China. oushi.2007@163.com
authors: Hongqiong
authors: H
authors: Ou
authors: Liaoqiong
authors: L
authors: Fang
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Bai
authors: Qingchun
authors: Q
authors: Diao
authors: Bei
authors: B
authors: Zhai
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008593:Menopause; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013010:Sonication
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens