Objective To observe the influence of acupuncture on neuroendocrine in rats with primary dysmenorrhea

so as to explore its underlying mechanism in relieving dysmenorrhea.Methods Forty female Wistar rats were equal randomized into control

model

acupuncture and Extractum Leonuri Inspissatum(ELI) groups

with 10 cases in each.Primary dysmenorrhea model was established by intragastric perfusion of diethylstilbestrol(3 mg/kg)

once daily for 12 days."Guanyuan"(CV 4)

bilateral "Sanyinjiao"(SP 6) and "Diji"(SP 8) were punctured once daily for 7 days.ELI(80 g/kg) was given to rats of ELI group via gastrogavage

once daily for 7 days.On the 12th day

the rats of 4 groups were given with oxytocin(14 U/kg

i.p.) for inducing dysmenorrhea.The latency and incidence rate of writhing within 30 min were observed.The serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)

luteinizing hormone(LH)

estradiol(E2)

and progesterone(P) were detected by radioimmunoassay

and the expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH) mRNA in hypothalamus and ovary

GnRH receptor(GnRH-R) mRNA in pituitary

estrodiol receptor(ER) mRNA and progesterone receptor(PR) mRNA in uterus were determined using RT-PCR.Results After modeling

the writhing latency shortened considerably and the writhing times

serum FSH

LH and E2 levels increased apparently

and serum P content decreased markedly(P<0.05).Compared with model group

the writhing times

serum FSH

LH

and E2 contents in acupuncture and ELI groups reduced significantly(P<0.05)

while the writhing latency and serum P contents in acupuncture and ELI groups increased remarkably(P<0.05).Compared with control group

hypothalamic GnRH mRNA

ovary GnRH mRNA

pituitary GnRH-R mRNA and uterus ER mRNA expressions in model group were up-regulated significantly

while uterus PR mRNA was down-regulated markedly in model group(P<0.05).In comparison with model group

hypothalamic GnRH mRNA

ovary GnRH mRNA

pituitary GnRH-R mRNA and uterus ER mRNA expressions in acupuncture and ELI groups were suppressed significantly(P<0.05)

while uterus PR mRNA expressions in the later two groups were up-regulated obviously(P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture of CV4

SP6 and SP8 can effectively relieve dysmenorrhea in the rat

which may be closely related to its effects in regulating neuroendocrine activities and the related receptor expression of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis.