Acupuncture Improves Endometrial Angiogenesis by Activating PI3K/AKT Pathway in a Rat Model with PCOS

Liwei Xing; Yang Chen; Zhe He; Ming He; Yuhuan Sun; Jinlong Xu; Jian Wang; Haina Zhuang; Zeqin Ren; Ying Chen; Jun Yang; Shuluo Cheng; Rong Zhao

doi:10.1155/2022/1790041

Acupuncture Improves Endometrial Angiogenesis by Activating PI3K/AKT Pathway in a Rat Model with PCOS

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Aug 24:2022:1790041. doi: 10.1155/2022/1790041. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Liwei Xing¹, Yang Chen², Zhe He¹, Ming He¹, Yuhuan Sun¹, Jinlong Xu³, Jian Wang¹, Haina Zhuang¹, Zeqin Ren⁴, Ying Chen¹, Jun Yang¹, Shuluo Cheng⁵, Rong Zhao¹

Affiliations

¹ Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China.
² Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center (Women and Children's Health Care Center of Hainan Province, Hainan Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Fudan University at Hainan, Hainan Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital), Haikou, China.
³ Yunnan Matemal and Child Health Care Hospital, Kunming, China.
⁴ First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, China.
⁵ Nanjing Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Nanjing, China.

Abstract

Background: Acupuncture, a treatment derived from traditional Chinese medicine, can effectively relieve the symptoms and improve pregnancy outcome in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); however, its mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed at investigating whether acupuncture could improve endometrial angiogenesis and thus endometrial receptivity via activating PI3K/AKT pathway in PCOS rats.

Methods: We established a rat model with PCOS, which was induced by DHEA. Acupuncture was performed every other day for 15 days, and the PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) was intraperitoneal injected 30 mins before acupuncture treatment. Females rats were mated with male SPF SD rats in a ratio of 2 : 1 after treatment and sacrificed on the 5th day when the vaginal plug was identified. The number of implantation sites was observed, followed by ovarian and endometrial morphology detected with hematoxylin-eosin staining and a scanning electron microscope, estrous cycle detected with vaginal smear analysis, and sex hormones and angiogenesis-related PI3K/AKT gene/protein expression detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blotting, immune histochemistry, and quantitative real-time PCR.

Results: Acupuncture notably improved implantation sites' number, endometrial receptivity factors including endometrial morphology, pinopodes, HOX-10, and LIF protein expression, as well as angiogenesis and PI3K/AKT pathway factors such as VEGF, VEGFR2, Ang-1, PI3K, AKT, and P-AKT gene/protein expression and the level of eNOS and NO in the endometrium of rats with PCOS; PCOS-like symptoms were alleviated as well. The efficacy of acupuncture on a rat model with PCOS was counteracted by the combination with the PI3K inhibitor.

Conclusion: Acupuncture improves endometrial angiogenesis by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway, thus promoting endometrial receptivity and the number of implantation sites in rats with PCOS.