Electroacupuncture dynamically reshaped reproductive hormone signalling in healthy female rats, suggesting it can alter ovulatory regulation even without endocrine disease.
Researchers applied electroacupuncture to the bilateral Sanyinjiao and Zusanli acupoints in healthy virgin female rats at regular intervals across five treatment sessions. They then compared treated, untreated, and sham-treated animals at several time points, measuring hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone and blood concentrations of reproductive hormones, prostaglandin E two, and norepinephrine.
Electroacupuncture increased hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone over later observation periods and produced an early reduction followed by later increases in follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone. Oestradiol changed over time, progesterone remained lower after treatment, and prostaglandin E two and norepinephrine showed opposing early and later responses. Together, these findings indicate that electroacupuncture can shift the balance of hormonal and neural signals governing the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovary system in healthy animals.
