ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation between efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) on mammary gland hyperplasia (MGH) and the regulatory pathway of intercostal nerve.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty female SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group (group A, 12 rats), a model group (group B, 12 rats), an EA group (group C, 13 rats) and an intercostal nerve transection group (group D, 13 rats). The rats in the group B, group C and group D were prepared into MGH model; after model was successfully prepared, the 7th intercostal nerve was cut off in the group D. EA was applied at back acupoints including bilateral "Tianzong" (SI 11), "Ganshu" (BL 18) and "Shenshu" (BL 23) as well as chest acupoints including bilateral "Wuyi" (ST 15), "Hegu" (LI 4) and "Danzhong" (CV 17) in the group C and D. The two groups of acupoints were selected alternately. EA was given for 20 min, once a day; 5-day treatment was taken as one course; there was an interval of 2 days between course; totally 20 treatments were given. After treatment, the height and diameter of papilla were observed; the contents of serum estradiol (E) and progestin (P), the expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and progestrone receptor (PR) in mammary gland were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The height and diameter of papilla: after treatment, the height and diameter of papilla in the group C were significantly smaller than those in the group B (both<0.05); the height and diameter of left-side papilla in the group D were significantly bigger than those in the group C (both<0.05). (2) Serum Eand P: after treatment, compared with the group B, the contents of Eand E/P were reduced and the content of P was increased in the group C and group D (all<0.05). Compared with the group C, the contents of Eand E/P were increased and the content of P was reduced in the group D (all<0.05). (3) ERα and PR in mammary gland: compared with the group B, the content of ERαwas decreased and the content of PR was increased in the group C (both<0.05). Compared with the group C, the content of ERαwas increased and the content of PR was decreased in the group D ((both<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The efficacy mechanism of EA for MGH is likely to be related with the pathway of intercostal nerve; the mechanism may be acupuncture regulating the contents of serum Eand P as well as contents of ERα and PR in mammary gland.</p>
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the regulating effect of thyroid pathway on electroacupuncture (EA) for mammary gland hyperplasia (MGH) so as to provide new research ideas for the mechanism of EA for MGH and to provide the evidence for clinical application.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty adult female SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an EA group, an EA with thyroidectomy group, an EA with sham operation group, 12 rats in each one. Except the blank group, the MGH model was established. Thyroid ablation was performed in the EA with thyroidectomy group, and sham operation was used in the EA with sham operation group, exposing thyroid without excision, 1 day after model establishment. EA was applied in the EA, the EA with thyroidectomy, and the EA with sham operation groups on the 4th day after model establishment, and not used in the other groups, but catching, routine disinfection and fixation were all the same as the above groups. The acupoints in the group A were bilateral "Tianzong" (SI 11), "Ganshu" (BL 18) and "Zusanli" (ST 36); and those in the group B were bilateral "Wuyi" (ST 15), "Hegu" (LI 4) and "Danzhong" (CV 17). The two groups of points were alternately used. EA, continuous wave, 2 Hz and 1 mA, was connected at "Tianzong" (SI 11) and "Ganshu" (BL 18), "Wuyi" (ST 15) and "Hegu" (LI 4) at the same side, 2 pairs EA a time, 20 min a time, once a day. All the intervention was given for 4 courses, 5 times as 1 course with 2 days between courses. After intervention, the height and diameter of the rat papilla were measured. Estrogen (E) and progestational hormone (P) in the serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the contents and protein expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR) in the mammary glands were detected by immunofluorescence and Western-blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The height and diameter of papilla in the model group increased compared with those in the blank group (both <0.01). The height and diameter of papilla in the EA, EA with sham operation groups reduced compared with those in the model group (all <0.01). Those in the EA with thyroidectomy group were lower than those in the model group, without statistical significance (both >0.05). (2) Compared with the blank group, E increased and P decreased in the model group (both <0.01). Compared with the model group, E decreased and P increased in the EA and EA with sham operation groups (all <0.01). The contents of E and P had no statistical significance between the model and the EA with thyroidectomy groups (both >0.05). (3) Compared with the blank group, the ERα content and protein expression increased and the PR content and protein expression decreased in the model group (all <0.01). Compared with the model group, the ERα content and protein expression decreased and the PR content and protein expression increased in the EA and EA with sham operation groups (all <0.01). The ERα and PR content and protein expression had no statistical significance between the model and the EA with thyroidectomy groups (all >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The effect of EA for MGH may be closely related to the regulation of thyroid.</p>
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of acupuncture combined withgranule on breast tissue, prolactin(PRL) and prolactin receptor (PRLR) expression in rats with mammary gland hyperplasia (MGH), and to explore its action mechanism to provide reference for clinical treatment of MGH.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-five female SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an acupuncture group, a Rule granule group and a combination group. Except the blank group, the rats in the remaining groups were treated with combined stimulation of estrogenic and progestational hormone to establish MGH model. After model establishment, the rats in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at Plan A of "Tianzong" (SI 11), "Ganshu" (BL 18), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and Plan B of "Wuyi" (ST 15), "Hegu" (LI 4), "Danzhong" (CV 17). Each plan was selected for one acupuncture treatment, and two plans were used alternately. The rats in the Rule granule group were treated with oral administration of granule, 3 mL per times. The rats in the combination group were treated with the samegranule, followed by acupuncture, once a day. After consecutive 30-day treatment, blood sample was collected from abdominal aorta; ELISA method was applied to measure the contents of PRL; the HE slice of mammary gland was observed under light microscope; the SABC immunohistochemical method was applied to measure the positive expression of PRLR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The morphology of breast tissue in the model group was consistent with MGH. Compared with the blank group, the serum PRL and the expression of PRLR were increased significantly in the model group (both<0.01). Compared with the model group, the hyperplasia of mammary gland in each treatment group was improved, and serum PRL and expression of PRLR were significantly reduced (<0.05,<0.01), which were more significant in the combination group (both<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture,granule and its combination could effectively treat MGH, which is likely to reduce the level of serum PRL and inhibit the binding of PRL to PRLR, as a result, the level of Eis indirectly inhibited, and the hyperplastic mammary gland is recovered. Compared with acupuncture orgranule, the combination of both has better overall efficacy.</p>