title: Effects of electro-acupuncture on oestrogen levels, body weight, articular cartilage histology and MMP-13 expression in ovariectomised rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment has been shown to decrease pain and improve the function of ovariectomised (OVX) rats with osteoarthritis (OA); however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We used OVX rabbits to replicate natural human menopausal processes and to evaluate whether EA could be used to prevent and treat postmenopausal OA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of eight: a normal control group (NC), an OVX group, an ERT group (oestrogen replacement therapy after OVX) and an EA group (EA therapy after OVX). After the interventions, all of the animals were killed. Serum oestrogen levels and body weight were measured. The transcription of matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) mRNA was detected using reverse transcriptase-PCR. Modified Mankin scores were used for histological assessment. Expression of MMP-13 in cartilage was determined by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the EA group and the ERT group had increased serum oestrogen levels (p=0.028, p=0.037 respectively), as well as decreased expression of MMP-13 (p=0.000, p=0.000, respectively), relative to the OVX group. The body weight of the EA group was lower than that of the OVX group and the NC group (p=0.007), as well as the ERT group (p=0.010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA could be a new method for preventing and treating postmenopausal OA by producing endogenous sex hormones that inhibit the expression of MMP-13 and cause weight loss with no side effects and a relatively low cost.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Rehabilitation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuxi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Chengqi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 / Q000378:metabolism*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13