Electroacupuncture: A promising solution for obesity-induced reproductive dysfunction in male rats  

作　　者：Jing-Yi Zhang Jun-Long Zhu Kun Zhu Xiao-Peng Huang Yao-Dong You Dong-Dong Yang De-Gui Chang Yi-Feng Shen 

机构地区：[1]TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province,Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,No.37 Shierqiao Road,Jinniu District,Chengdu 610075,China [2]Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,No,37,Shierqiao Road,Jinniu District,Chengdu 610075,China [3]Department of Neurology,Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,No.37,Shierqiao Road,Jinniu District,Chengdu 610075,China

出　　处：《Natural Therapy Advances》2025年第1期22-35,共14页

基　　金：supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province(2023NSFSC1799);the Science and Technology Development Fund of the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(23YY07);National Natural Science Foundation of China(82405413).

摘　　要：Background:Obesity represents a major public health issue,closely linked to a range of metabolic and reproductive disorders.Electroacupuncture(EA)has emerged as a potential non-pharmacological intervention that may alleviate complications associated with obesity,including reproductive dysfunction.Objectives:This study sought to evaluate the impact of EA on leptin/kisspeptin signaling pathways and hypothalamic inflammation in obese male rats,with the aim of elucidating its potential mechanisms in mitigating reproductive disorders related to obesity.Methods:Forty male Wistar rats were allocated into two groups:a regular diet(RD,n=10)group and a high-fat diet(HFD,n=30)group.Following an 8-week period,23 out of the 30 rats in the HFD group satisfied the criteria for the obesity model,characterized by a body weight surpassing 20%of the average body weight of the RD group.From these 23 obese rats,20 were randomly selected and further subdivided into the Model(n=10)and EA(n=10)groups.The EA group underwent EA treatment at the Zusanli(ST36),Shenshu(BL23),and Sanyinjiao(SP6)acupoints over a duration of 4 weeks.The study assessed parameters including body weight,serum lipid levels,reproductive hormone levels,hypothalamic histology,inflammation markers,and neurotransmitter levels.Results:EA treatment significantly reduced body weight,improved lipid profiles,and restored hormone levels towards those seen in control animals.Histological analysis showed improved neuronal integrity and a shift in microglial polarization towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype in the EA group.EA treatment was associated with improvements in leptin and kisspeptin signaling activity,which may contribute to its beneficial effects on reproductive function in obese male rats.Neurotransmitter profiling and untargeted serum metabolomics revealed significant improvements in metabolic pathways related to amino acid and lipid metabolism,including key pathways associated with dopamine,serotonin,and glutamine.Conclusions:EA significantly alleviated obesity-i

关 键 词：ELECTROACUPUNCTURE hypothalamic inflammation OBESITY leptin/kisspeptin signaling male rats 

分 类 号：R245[医药卫生—针灸推拿学]