Objective To observe the effect of preventive acupuncture and moxibustion of "Guanyuan" (CV 4) on uterus in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods A total of 80 female SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal control

sham-operation (sham)

model

preventive acupuncture (PA) and preventive moxibustion (PM) groups

with 16 cases in each. PA (with the needle retained for 20 min after insertion) and PM (one moxa-cone/rat) were applied to "Guanyuan" (CV 4) separately before ovariectomy

two times a week

4 weeks altogether. Then

ovariectomy was performed on rats of model

PA and PM groups. Uterus tissue was taken under anesthesia for homogenate (10 rats/group) or sectioning (5-6 μm

6 rats/group). Uterus estradiol (E2)

progestone (P) were detected with radioimmunoassay; superoxide dismutase (SOD)

nitric oxide synthase (NOS)

and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assayed with immunoturdidimetry. Partial uterus slices were stained with H&E method for observing morphological changes

or stained with immunohistochemical method or with in situ hybridization method for displaying estrogen receptor (ER)-α and ER-α mRNA expression separately. Results After ovariectomy

the rat’s uterus presented obvious squamous metaplasia

hyperplasy

and thickening of the endomembrane

decrease in glands and blood vessels and increase in fibrous connective tissue

etc; while the situation was evidently better in PA and PM groups. In comparison with normal control group

E2

P contents and SOD

NOS activities of uterus tissue in model group decreased significantly (P<0.01)

while MDA in model group increased evidently (P<0.01). Compared with model group

uterus P content in PA and PM groups increased obviously (P<0.05)

while uterus MDA decreased apparently (P<0.01). Compared with normal control group

the expression of ER-α and ER-α mRNA in model group was downregulated markedly (P<0.01); after PA and PM

both ER-α and ER-α mRNA expression increased obviously (P<0.01). No significant differences were found between PA and PM groups in the above mentioned 7 indexes (P>0.05). Conclusion Preventive acupuncture and moxibustion of CV4 can postpone the structural degeneration of uterus in OVX rats

which may be related to their effects in modulating the secretion of uterus E2 and P

upregulating the expression of ER-α and ER-α mRNA

and improving the anti-oxidative ability.