Moxibustion ameliorates ovarian function in premature ovarian insufficiency rats by activating cAMP/PKA/CREB to promote steroidogenesis in ovarian granulosa cells

Zhao R, Ran L, Yao H, He Y, Lu X, Zhu W, Zhang Y, Zhang T, Shi S, Luo Z, Zhang C · The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · 2024 September

DOI 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2024.106547

Objective

To investigate the regulatory mechanisms by which moxibustion modulates hormone levels and restores ovarian function in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency.

Conclusions

Moxibustion improves impaired ovarian function in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency by enhancing steroidogenesis in granulosa cells through activation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A/cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein pathway.

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Insights

Moxibustion restored ovarian function in rats by selectively stimulating hormone production in granulosa cells through a cellular signalling pathway.

Researchers induced premature ovarian insufficiency in rats using cyclophosphamide, then administered moxibustion at two traditional treatment points over four treatment courses. Ovarian tissue underwent whole-transcriptome sequencing to identify altered biological pathways and genes, followed by pathway scoring and validation using electron microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, protein analysis, and tissue staining. Moxibustion improved reproductive cycling, sex hormone balance, and follicle development while reducing follicle degeneration. It suppressed gene programmes linked to ovarian dysfunction, infertility, and immune activity, while enhancing those involved in follicle maturation and ovarian hormone synthesis. The treatment increased granulosa-cell abundance and activated steroid-producing proteins in these cells, without comparable effects in theca cells, indicating a cell-specific mechanism for restoring ovarian hormone production.