Objective To observe the effects of moxibustion preconditioning on ovarian function

fertility and ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency(POI)

so as to investigate its underlying mechanism in improving POI. Methods Forty-two female SD rats with two complete estrous cycles were randomly divided into control group

model group and pre-moxibustion group

with 14 rats in each group. The pre-moxibustion group was pretreated with mild moxibustion for 14 days before POI model establishment at 1) “Guanyuan”(CV4) and “Zhongwan”(CV12) and 2) bilateral “Shenshu”(BL23) as two sets of acupoints on alternate days

once each day

for 10 min each acupoint. After 14-day mild moxibustion intervention

75 mg·kg

(-1)

·d(-1)·d

(-1)

tripterygium glycoside tablet suspension was administered to rats in the pre-moxibustion group and the model group by gavage

for 14 consecutive days

while equivalent saline was given to rats in the control group in the same way. After modeling

the effect of moxibustion preconditioning on ovarian reserve function was evaluated by the estrous cycles

pregnancy rate and embryo number

morphological changes of ovaries

and serum sex hormone levels. TUNEL staining was used to detect the rate of granulosa cell apoptosis in ovaries. Immunohistochemistry and real time quantitative PCR were used to detect the relative expression of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 proteins and mRNA levels in ovaries. Results Compared with the control group

the estrous cycles were disturbed; the pregnancy rate and number of embryos

the wet weight of ovary and ovarian index

the number of total follicles and different level of follicles

serum Estradiol(E_2) and anti-mullerian hormone(AMH) levels were all significantly decreased(P

<

0.01

P

<

0.05)

while the number of atretic follicles

serum follicule-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH) levels

the number of TUNEL-positive granulosa cells

the expression of ovarian Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 proteins and mRNAs were significantly increased(P

<

0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group

the disordered estrous cycles were improved; the pregnancy rate

the embryo numbers

the wet weight of ovary

and the total follicle number and primary follicle number

serum AMH level were significantly increased(P

<

0.01

P

<

0.05)

while the number of atretic follicles

serum FSH level

the number of TUNEL-positive granulosa cells

expression of ovarian Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 proteins and mRNAs were all significantly decreased(P

<

0.01

P

<

0.05) in the moxibustion group. Conclusion Moxibustion preconditioning could improve ovarian function and improve fertility of POI rats

which may be associated with reducing the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells.