Effects of ginger-partitioned moxibustion on the expression levels of PGF2α, E2, P, and mRNAs of PGF2αR and E2R in rats with primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness stagnation / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the effects of ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Shenque (CV8) and Guanyuan (CV4) on the expression levels of endocrine-related molecules and their receptors in rats with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) due to cold-dampness stagnation, thus to explore their analgesic mechanisms. Methods: Thirty-two female Wistar rats were divided into a normal group, a model group, a ginger-partitioned moxibustion group, and a Western medicine group according to the random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. Except for rats in the normal group, all other rats were treated with oxytocin combined with ice-water bath to establish the rat models of PD due to cold-dampness stagnation. After successful modeling, rats in the normal group and the model group did not receive treatment; rats in the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group received treatments with ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Shenque (CV8) and Guanyuan (CV4); rats in the Western medicine group received ibuprofen by intragastric administration. The writhing response of rats was compared among groups, and the serum levels of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), estrogen (estradiol, E2), progesterone (P), and the mRNA expression of PGF2α and E2 receptors in the uterine tissues were detected. Results: No writhing behavior was observed in the normal group; compared with the normal group, the serum PGF2α and E2 levels in the model group were increased (P<0.01), while the P level was decreased (P<0.01), and the mRNA expression levels of the uterine PGF2α and E2 receptors were increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the writhing behavior latency was prolonged, and the writhing response score was decreased in the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group and the Western medicine group (P<0.01); the serum PGF2α and E2 levels in the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group and the Western medicine group were decreased, while the P level was increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the mRNA expression levels of the uterine PGF2α and E2 receptors in the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group and the Western medicine group were decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the Western medicine group, the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group showed a prolonged writhing behavior latency, reduced writhing response score (P<0.05), and decreased serum E2 level (P<0.05), while no statistical differences in the serum PGF2α and P levels, or the mRNA expression levels of uterine PGF2α and E2 receptors (P>0.05).Conclusion: The analgesic effect of ginger-partitioned moxibustion on PD due to cold-dampness stagnation may be related to regulating the mRNA expression levels of PGF2α and E2 receptors in the uterine tissues.