RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of acupuncture at acupoint of Shenshu (BL 23) in ovariectomized rats and sham-operated rats. METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following four groups (n = 12 each): sham operation only (Sham), sham operation with acupuncture (Sham + ACP), ovariectomy only (OVX), and ovariectomy with acupuncture (OVX + ACP). Operations were performed at the 9th week of age. Acupuncture of Shenshu (BL 23) was started at the 11th week of age and conducted 3 times per week until the 26th week of age. RESULTS: Among ovariectomized rats, the acupuncture-treated rats had significantly lower body weights and cross-linked N-telopeptide of type 1 collagen levels in the urine after 3 weeks of acupuncture treatment, higher bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebra after 7 weeks, and smaller trabecular separation of the sixth lumbar vertebra, measured by micro-computed tomography, after 17 weeks than control rats. These effects were not observed in sham-operated rats. Blood concentrations of estradiol were significantly higher in the OVX + ACP group than in the untreated group. Acupuncture treatment increased plasma testosterone levels in sham-operated rats, while this increase was not observed in OVX rats. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture of Shenshu (BL 23) prevents bone loss and structural changes by suppressing bone resorption.
