Immunity and beta-endorphin concentrations in hypothalamus and plasma in rats with steroid-induced polycystic ovaries: effect of low-frequency electroacupuncture.

• The human endocrinological disorder polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of reproductive failure. Even though the cause of PCOS is unknown, hormone and immune disturbances as well as hyperactivity in the sympathetic nervous system are likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. The present study was undertaken to elucidate if rats with estradiol valerate (EV)-induced polycystic ovaries (PCO) have altered beta-endorphin concentrations in the hypothalamus and in plasma and if they have alterations in circulating immune cell populations and the activity. Repeated low-frequency (2 Hz) electroacupuncture (EA) treatments are known to modulate the release of beta-endorphin, immune responses, and the activity in the autonomic nervous system. We therefore also investigated the effect of EA treatments on the beta-endorphin and the immune systems. Low-frequency EA was given 12 times, 25 min each, over 30 days starting 2-3 days after i.m. injection of EV. The beta-endorphin concentrations in the hypothalamus and in plasma as well as the frequencies of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells were significantly lower in EV-injected control rats as compared to oil-injected control rats. Repeated EA treatments in EV-injected rats significantly increased beta-endorphin concentrations in the hypothalamus. In conclusion, these findings show that both the beta-endorphinergic and the immune system are significantly impaired in rats with steroid-induced PCO and that repeated EA treatments can restore some of these disturbances.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Fysiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Physiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Animals

Antigens

CD

metabolism

Antigens

Differentiation

B-Lymphocyte

metabolism

CD4-CD8 Ratio

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes

cytology

immunology

metabolism

CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes

cytology

immunology

metabolism

Electroacupuncture

Estradiol

analogs & derivatives

Female

Hypothalamus

immunology

metabolism

Killer Cells

Natural

cytology

immunology

Macrophages

cytology

immunology

Monocytes

cytology

immunology

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

chemically induced

immunology

therapy

Rats

Rats

Inbred WKY

Receptors

Transferrin

beta-Endorphin

blood

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)