Objective： To observe the effects of Bushen Tongmai Recipe （补肾通脉方, BSTMR） on mRNA and protein expressions of protein kinase B alpha （PKB α） in hepatic, adipose, muscular, and ovarian tissues of polycystic ovary（PCO） rats with insulin resistance （IR） and to explore the possible molecular mechanism of BSTMR in treating IR and ovulation dysfunction. Methods： Female 22-day-old SD rats were injected subcutaneously with sodium prasterone sulfate （9 mg.100g^-1.d^-1） for 20 days and fed with high-fat diet for 80 days to induce PCO rats with IR. Then, the PCO rats were randomly divided into the model group （n=23） and the treated group （n=21）. The treated group was administered with BSTMR for 2 weeks. Meanwhile, a group with 15 rats of the same age was used as the control group. The histological changes in the ovaries were examined. Fasting blood glucose （FBG） was determined by the glucose oxidase method. Serum fasting insulin （Fins） was determined by radioimmunoassay （RIA）. The mRNA level of PKB ~ was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. Immunohistochemistry staining and Western blot analysis were employed to detect the protein expression in target tissues. Results： Compared with the control group, the ovaries in the model group showed multiple follicular cysts, levels of FBG and Fins in the model group increased markedly （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01, respectively）, and the insulin sensitive index （ISI） decreased obviously （P〈0.01）. The mRNA and protein expressions of PKB e in target tissues in the model group were dramatically lower than those in the control group （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. Compared with the model group, the stratum granulosum of the ovarian follicle in the treated group increased markedly, the level of Fins in the treated group decreased obviously （P〈0.01）, ISI in the treated group improved markedly （P〈0.01）, and the mRNA and protein expressions of PKBα in target tissues of the treated rat
Acupuncture has been used to treat infertility extensively, including ovulatory dysfunction, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer （IVF-ET）, and male infertility. This review summarizes the recent studies which investigated the role of acupuncture in infertility. In conclusion, most of the existing studies suggest a positive effect of acupuncture in infertility treatment. Firstly, acupuncture may improve ovulation by modulating the central and peripheral nervous systems, the neuroendocrine and endocrine systems, the ovarian blood flow, and metabolism. Secondly, acupuncture can improve the outcome of IVF-ET, and the mechanisms may be related to the increased uterine blood flow, inhibited uterine motility, and the anesis of depression, anxiety and stress. Its effect on modulating immune function also suggests helpfulness in improving the outcome of IVF-ET. Finally, the studies suggest that acupuncture plays a positive role in male infertility, the mechanism of which is not yet clear. Even though a positive effect of acupuncture in infertility has been found, well-designed multi-center, prospective randomized controlled studies are still needed to provide more reliable and valid scientific evidence. Furthermore, it is urgent and necessary to clarify the mechanism of acupuncture for infertility.
