LU Yan, TIAN Meng, SHEN Qingsi, ZHANG Jing, SUN Zhengao, ZHANG Yongchen, JIA Hongling

(1 Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong University of TCM, Jinan250355, China; 2 The Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of TCM, Jinan 250014, China)

Abstract:  Objective ： To  observe  the  effects  of  herb-partition  moxibustion  at  navel  on  the expressions  of  Bcl-2  and  Bax  in  rats  with  premature  ovarian  failure  (POF);  To  explore  its mechanism  underlying  improvement  of  POF.  Methods ： POF  model  was  established  by intraperitoneal  injection  of  cyclophosphamide.  Forty-eight  Female  Wistar  rats  were  randomly divided into normal group,  model group, moxibustion group and Western medicine group,  with 12 rats in each group. Rats of moxibustion group were treated with herb-partition moxibustion 

at navel (Shenque,CV8), 30min/d, once every other day; rats of  Western medicine group were given  intragastric dose  of  estradiol  valerate,  once  a  day,  for  14d.The  protein  and  mRNA expressions  of Bax and Bcl-2 in ovarian granulosa cells were detected by immunohistochemal method, Western blot and  qRT -PCR, respectively .  Results：The weights of ovariesin the model group rats were significantly lower than those  in the normal group (P<0.05). The expressions  of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in ovarian tissue of each group  were  mainly expressed brown coloration and in the cytoplasm of cells.The range of Bax protein in granulosa cells of moxibustion group and Western medicine group was significantly less than that in model group. The range of Bcl-2 in moxibustion group and Western medicine group was significantly larger than that in model group. Compared with the normal group, the expressions of Bcl-2 protein and mRNA in the model group rats  significantly  decreased  (P<0.05,P<0.01),  and  the  expression  of  Bax  protein  and  mRNA significantly  increased  (P<0.05,P<0.01).  The  expression  level  of  Bcl-2  protein  and  mRNA  was significantly higher in the moxibustion group and in the western medicine group than that in the model group (P<0.05,P<0.01). The expression level of Bax protein and mRNA in the moxibustion group was significantly lower than that in the  model group (P<0.05,P<0.01).  Conclusion：The herb-partition  moxibustion  at  navel  canimprove  the  function  of  ovaries  by  up  regulating  the expression of Bcl-2 and down regulating the expression of Bax in POF rats model.

Key words: premature ovarian failure, herb-partition moxibustion at  navel, Shenque (CV8), Bcl-2, Bax