Effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture on estradiol-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in health rodents.

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of classical acupuncture (Ac) and electroacupuncture (EAc) on estradiol-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in health rodents. METHODS Twenty-four eight-week old female rats were treated with estradiol valerate (EV) 4.0 mg i.m. single dose and randomly assigned to four groups (n=6): G1(control), G2 (Ac), G3 (EAc 2 Hz) and G4 (EAc 100 Hz). After 60 days all rats were anesthetized with chloral hydrate 10% (0.1 ml/30 g weight of the animal) and submitted to Ac/EAc for twenty minutes. The procedures were repeated on days three, five, seven and nine of the study. The equivalent of the human right ST-36 (Zusanli) and SP-6 (Sanyinjiao) acupoints were chosen for needling and electrical stimulation. On the 10th day of the experiment, all rats were anesthetized for collection of blood and tissues (ovaries) samples for biochemical analysis and histological examination. RESULTS Glutathione (GSH) and malonaldehyde (MDA) concentrations increased significantly in all groups (plasma and ovary) while myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity decreased significantly in all groups compared with control group (G1). CONCLUSIONS Both classical acupuncture and electroacupuncture decrease systemic and local oxidative stress and ovary inflammation in healthy rats exposed to estrogenic stimulation. EAc enhances lipid peroxidation at systemic and local levels in female rats exposed to estrogenic stimulation.