Regulatory mechanism of electroacupuncture on hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in oligospermic rats

doi:10.12307/2025.751

Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (26): 5563-5571.doi: 10.12307/2025.751

Regulatory mechanism of electroacupuncture on hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in oligospermic rats

Zhao Zhenning1, 2, 3, Li Kaiying1, 2, 3, Yang Nan1, 2, 3, Sun Wenjing1, 2, 3, Wei Xiaoge1, 2, 3, Mu Jing1, Ma Huisheng1, 2, 3

1College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China; 2Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Modernization of Traditional Medicine for Ethic Minorities in Ningxia, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China; 3Ningxia Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of High-Incidence Diseases, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China

Received:2024-06-29 Accepted:2024-08-29 Online:2025-09-18 Published:2025-02-25
Contact: Ma Huisheng, PhD, Professor, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Modernization of Traditional Medicine for Ethic Minorities in Ningxia, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China; Ningxia Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of High-Incidence Diseases, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China Co-corresponding author: Mu Jing, PhD, Associate professor, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
About author:Zhao Zhenning, Master’s candidate, College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Modernization of Traditional Medicine for Ethic Minorities in Ningxia, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China; Ningxia Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of High-Incidence Diseases, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
Supported by:
Key R&D project of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, No. 2021BEG02041 (to MHS)

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture can treat oligoasthenospermia by stimulating hormone synthesis and release in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and testis, but its mechanism is complex, and the efficacy of electroacupuncture is closely related to the idea of acupoint compatibility.
OBJECTIVE: To explore whether electroacupuncture therapy can improve the function status of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis by adjusting the level of serum related sex hormones in rats, so as to treat adenine-induced oligoasthenospermia in rats.
METHODS: Fifty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into blank, model, electroacupuncture, L-carnitine, and non-meridian and non-acupuncture point groups, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, the rats in the other four groups were given 200 mg/(kg·d) adenine via intragastric administration for 28 days to establish oligoasthenospermia models. After modeling, the rats in the electroacupuncture group were given electroacupuncture treatment at Zhongji, Guanyuan, Zusanli and Sanyinjiao acupoints, the non-acupoint group was selected for electroacupuncture treatment at three non-acupoint points, and the rats in the L-carnitine group were given oral infusion of L-carnitine, once daily, for 28 continuous days. After treatment, the kidney and testicular organ coefficients were calculated. Sperm count, survival rate and motility rate were determined. Pathological morphological changes of kidney and testicular tissues were observed. Serum sex hormones testosterone, gonadotropin releasing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, statin B and prolactin levels were detected in rats of each group.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The renal organ coefficient in the model group was higher than that in the blank, electroacupuncture and L-carnitine groups (p < 0.05), the renal organ coefficient in the non-acupoint group was higher than that in the electroacupuncture group (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the testicular organ coefficient among all groups (P > 0.05). (2) Compared with the blank group, sperm count, survival rate and motility rate were decreased in the model group (P < 0.05); compared with the model group, sperm count, survival rate and motility rate were increased in the electroacupuncture group and L-carnitine group (P < 0.05); compared with the non-acupoint group, sperm count, survival rate and motility rate were higher in the electroacupuncture group (P < 0.05). (3) Hematoxylin-eosin staining results indicated that the kidney and testicular tissues of rats in the model group were severely damaged, while damage to kidney and testicular tissues was less in the electroacupuncture group and L-carnitine group compared with the model group, but severer in the non-acupoint group than the electroacupuncture group. (4) Compared with the blank group, the levels of testosterone, gonadotropin releasing hormone, and inhibin B in the serum of rats in the model group were decreased (P < 0.05), and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and prolactin were increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of testosterone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and inhibin B in the serum of rats in the electroacupuncture group and L-carnitine group were increased (P < 0.05), and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and prolactin were decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the non-acupoint group, the levels of testosterone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and inhibin B in the serum of the rats in electroacupuncture group were increased (P < 0.05), and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and prolactin were decreased (P < 0.05). To conclude, electroacupuncture at Zhongji, Guanyuan, Zusanli, and Sanyinjiao acupoints can effectively treat oligoasthenospermia by regulating the functional state of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in rats.

Key words: electric acupuncture, oligoasthenospermia, hypothalamic-pituitary-testis axis, adenine, sex hormone, engineered tissue construction

CLC Number:

Zhao Zhenning, , , Li Kaiying, , , Yang Nan, , , Sun Wenjing, , , Wei Xiaoge, , , Mu Jing, Ma Huisheng, , . Regulatory mechanism of electroacupuncture on hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in oligospermic rats[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2025, 29(26): 5563-5571.

Figures/Tables 7

2.5.1 血清睾酮水平模型组大鼠血清睾酮水平低于空白组(P < 0.001)，电针组和左卡尼汀组大鼠血清睾酮水平均高于模型组(P均< 0.001)，非经非穴组大鼠血清睾酮水平低于电针组(P < 0.01)，电针组大鼠血清睾酮水平与左卡尼汀组比较差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)，见图6。 2.5.2 血清卵泡刺激素水平模型组大鼠血清卵泡刺激素水平高于空白组(P < 0.001)，电针组和左卡尼汀组大鼠血清卵泡刺激素水平均低于模型组(P均< 0.01)，非经非穴组大鼠血清卵泡刺激素水平高于电针组(P < 0.01)，电针组大鼠血清卵泡刺激素水平与左卡尼汀组比较差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)，见图7。 2.5.3 血清黄体生成素水平模型组大鼠血清黄体生成素水平高于空白组(P < 0.001)，与模型组对比，电针组和左卡尼汀组大鼠血清黄体生成素水平均低于模型组(P均< 0.001)，非经非穴组大鼠血清黄体生成素水平高于电针组(P < 0.001)，电针组大鼠血清黄体生成素水平与左卡尼汀组比较差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)，见图8。 2.5.4 血清促性腺激素释放激素水平模型组大鼠血清促性腺激素释放激素水平低于空白组(P < 0.001)，电针组和左卡尼汀组大鼠血清促性腺激素释放激素水平均高于模型组(P < 0.001)，非经非穴组大鼠血清促性腺激素释放激素水平低于电针组(P < 0.001)，电针组大鼠血清促性腺激素释放激素水平与左卡尼汀组比较差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)，见图9。 2.5.5 血清泌乳素水平模型组大鼠血清泌乳素水平高于空白组(P < 0.001)，电针组和左卡尼汀组大鼠血清泌乳素水平均低于模型组(P均< 0.01)，非经非穴组大鼠血清泌乳素水平高于电针组(P < 0.01)，电针组大鼠血清泌乳素水平与左卡尼汀组比较差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)，见图10。 2.5.6 血清雌二醇水平模型组大鼠血清雌二醇水平高于空白组(P < 0.001)，电针组和左卡尼汀组大鼠血清雌二醇水平均低于模型组(P均< 0.01)，非经非穴组大鼠血清雌二醇水平高于电针组(P < 0.05)，电针组大鼠血清雌二醇水平与左卡尼汀组比较差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)，见图11。 2.5.7 血清抑制素B水平模型组大鼠血清抑制素B水平低于空白组(P < 0.01)，电针组和左卡尼汀组大鼠血清抑制素B水平均高于模型组(P均< 0.05)，非经非穴组大鼠血清抑制素B水平低于电针组(P < 0.05)，电针组鼠与左卡尼汀组比较差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)，见图12。 2.6 治疗结束后大鼠肾脏组织形态观察结果苏木精-伊红染色结果显示，空白组大鼠肾脏组织肾小球形态规则，肾小管排列整齐，未见明显病理改变；模型组大鼠肾脏组织肾小球形态异常，肾小管管腔不规则，肾间质有大量炎性细胞浸润和纤维化；与模型组相比，电针组和左卡尼汀组大鼠肾脏组织损伤明显减轻，可见大量形态较规则的肾小球，与肾小囊略有分离，肾小管与周围肾组织有明显间隙；与电针组比较，非经非穴组大鼠肾脏组织损伤较重，可见部分形态较规则的肾小球，肾小球周围存在中度炎性细胞浸润和纤维化，见图13。 2.7 治疗结束后大鼠睾丸组织形态学观察结果见图14。苏木精-伊红染色结果显示，空白组大鼠睾丸组织结构完整，形态正常，生精细胞和生精小管排列规则，腔"

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Regulatory mechanism of electroacupuncture on hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in oligospermic rats

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