Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on the expression of autophagy mediated PI3 K/AKT pathway and sex hormones in polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) rats

so as to explore the mechanisms underlying improvement of PCOS anovulatory infertility. Methods Six-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control

model and EA groups(n=10 per group). The PCOS model was established by gavage of Letrozole solution(1.0 mg/kg)

once daily for 21 consecutive days. Then

EA(2 Hz

1 mA) was applied to the "Sanyinjiao"(SP6) and "Taichong"(LR3) for 20 min

once a day for 14 successive days. The morphological changes of the ovary were observed after H.E. staining. The contents of serum androgen(T)

luteinizing hormone(LH) and anti-mullerian hormone(AMH) were detected by ELISA. The expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3 K)

protein kinase B(AKT) and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3) in the ovary tissues were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with the control group

the levels of serum T

LH and AMH contents

and ovarian LC3 Ⅱ expression and the ratio of LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰwere significantly increased(P<0.05)

and the expression levels of PI3 K and AKT proteins were considerably decreased in the model group(P<0.05). After EA intervention

the levels of serum T

LH

AMH

and the ratio of LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰwere considerably down-regulated(P<0.05)

and those of PI3 K and AKT were obviously up-regulated in the EA group(P<0.05). Conclusion EA intervention can reduce serum T

LH and AMH contents

and the ratio of ovarian LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ and up-regulate ovarian PI3 K and AKT in PCOS rats

which may contribute to its effect in improving anovulatory infertility by suppressing autophagy.