Abstract
Background: To ascertain the estrogenic effect of Zhuang
Medicated Thread Moxibustion (ZMTM) and explore its time-sensitive
impact on estradiol in female perimenopausal rats.
Methods: Female rats were randomized into four groups of 10
rats, each consisting of the control, model, ZMTM, and acupuncture
groups. The perimenopausal syndrome was induced in the last three groups
with a daily subcutaneous dose of 80 mg/kg of 4- vinylcyclohexene
diepoxide for 15 days. Afterward, rats in the model and control groups
were fed routinely, while rats in the ZMTM and acupuncture groups were
treated with six ZMTM and acupuncture courses, respectively. The rats’
general condition and estradiol (E2) levels in the rats’
serum were assessed.
Results: Following the six courses of treatment, the
E2 level in the model group was significantly the
lowest, while the regular group was the highest (P < 0.05).
There was also a gradual increase in the E2 level of the
ZMTM group compared to the model and acupuncture groups, such that after
the 5th and 6th courses of
treatment, their E2 level was significantly higher than
the model and acupuncture groups (P < 0.05). The control group
had a better condition than all other groups, while the ZMTM group was
better than the model and acupuncture groups.
Conclusion: ZMTM can improve perimenopausal induced rats’
estrogen level, and this effect becomes better with each further
treatment course.
Keywords : ZMTM, perimenopausal syndrome, estrogen,
time-sensitiveness, Chinese Medicine, Experimental.
What is already known about this topic?
Perimenopausal syndrome (PPS) is also known as climacteric syndrome,
whose main symptoms include endocrine dyscrasia and neurasthenia induced
by the degeneration of ovarian functions2. It is also
known as a perimenopausal disorder in traditional Chinese medicine. The
primary treatment is hormone replacement therapy, which can relieve
climacteric symptoms and negative emotions, but it has side
effects4. Other research shows that long-term hormone
therapy increases breast cancer risk, endometrial cancer, ovarian
cancer, and other related diseases4.
What does this article add?
This study confirms that Zhuang Medicated Thread Moxibustion can improve
perimenopausal model rats’ estrogen levels; this curative effect is most
effective at the 3rd cycle and tends to become better in further
treatment cycles. Although the mechanism of action of ZMTM is yet to be
explored, making further human trials necessary, this study has however,
laid a foundation for its clinical research and application.