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.