Acupuncture does not restore metabolic disturbances in the P450 aromatase inhibitor induced-polycystic ovary syndrome rat model

Low-frequency electroacupuncture restores sex steroid synthesis and sympathetic activity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, which may improve its metabolic disturbances likely by modulating sympathetic nerve activity or sex steroid synthesis. We investigated whether low-frequency electroacupuncture regulates the metabolic function to the same extent as treatment with estradiol or β-adrenergic blocking in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome induced by a P450 aromatase inhibitor (letrozole). Letrozole (200 μg per day) or placebo pellets were implanted in pre-pubertal Wistar rats. Six weeks thereafter, rats were treated for 5–6 weeks with: low-frequency electroacupuncture (5 days per week), a β-adrenergic blocker (propranolol hydrochloride, 0.1 mg kg⁻¹) (5 days per week), or 17β-estradiol (2.0 μg) every fourth day. Body weight development, body composition, locomotor activity, insulin sensitivity, tissue specific glucose uptake, lipid profile, adipocyte size, adiponectin and insulin serum concentrations, and gene expression in inguinal fat were measured. All treatments increased circulating levels of LDL-cholesterol. Estradiol treatment restored locomotor activity and increased insulin sensitivity but did not modify the glucose uptake in muscle and fat. An upregulation of genes related to insulin sensitivity and downregulation of genes related to adipogenesis were observed in subcutaneous adipose tissue from rats exposed to letrozole. Only estradiol treatment normalized the expression of these genes. In conclusions, low-frequency electroacupuncture increased LDL-cholesterol without affecting the insulin sensitivity or adipose tissue function, which could suggest effects on hepatic lipid regulation probably mediated by estradiol action or β-adrenergic pathway.

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