Objective To observe the effect of manual acupuncture intervention on the reproductive endocrine and p-Akt protein expression in polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance(PCOS-IR)rats

so as to reveal its mechanism in relieving PCOS-IR.Methods Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into control

model

medication(Metformin)and acupuncture groups(n=8 in each).The PCOS-IR model was established by subcutaneous injection of Dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA

6 mg/100 g)

once daily for 20 days.Rats of the medication group were treated by gavage of Metformin solution(100 mg/kg)

once daily for 28 days.For rats of the acupuncture group

manual acupuncture stimulation(lifting-thrusting and rotating of needles)was applied to the bilateral"Shenshu"(BL 23)

"Yishu"(EX-B 3)

"Zigong"(EX-CA 1)

"Sanyinjiao"(SP 6)

"Fenglong"(ST 40)and"Guanyuan"(CV 4)for 5 min

once a day for 28 days.H.E.staining was used to observe the histopathologic changes of the ovary tissue.Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)

estradiol(E2)

luteinizing hormone(LH)

testosterone(T)and fasting insulin(FINS)were measured by ELISA.Fasting plasma glucose(FPG)was measured by blood glucose meter

and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR)was calculated.Western blot was used to detect the expression of Akt and p-Akt proteins in ovarian tissues.Results Following modeling

the ovaries showed polycystic changes and an increase of atresia follicles with a larger diameter and no corpus luteum in the model group.After the intervention

there were various types of follicles and a small amount of corpus luteum at different stages of development in both acupuncture and medication groups.In comparison with the control group

serum FSH and E2 levels as well as ovarian Akt and p-Akt protein expression were considerably decreased(P<0.05

P<0.01)

and serum LH

T and FINS contents and HOMA-IR were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01).Following the intervention

the decreased serum FSH and E2 levels as well as ovarian Akt and p-Akt protein expression

and the increased serum LH

T and FINS contents and HOMA-IR were remarkably reversed in both acupuncture and medication groups(P<0.05

P<0.01)

without significant differences between the two groups in the levels of those serum and ovary indexes(P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture intervention can regulate the levels of reproductive endocrine hormones and reduce insulin resistance in PCOS-IR rats

which may be related to its effect in up-regulating the expression of p-Akt protein in the ovaries.