Moxibustion regulates hypothalamic microglia M1-M2 polarization to against the aging of GnRH neurons

With the current increase in population aging, anti-aging has become a popular area of current medical research. Previous studies have found that hypogonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion in the hypothalamus is an important factor in multi-organ aging, and GnRH secretion and receptor levels are influenced by the intrahypothalamic environment. Therefore, using a 20-month-old natural aging rat model, we found no significant difference between moxibustion treatment in improving physiological status and serum sex hormone levels in aged rats compared with exogenous sex hormone supplementation. In contrast, moxibustion was found to promote the polarization of hypothalamic microglia by immunofluorescence double-labeling and PCR, thus promoting the activation of GnRH neurons and the secretion of GnRH. western blot analysis showed that it decreased the levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-12, increased the levels of anti-inflammatory factors and neurotrophic factors TGF-β, IL-10, and GDNF, and improved the hypothalamic In conclusion, moxibustion can regulate the polarization of hypothalamic microglia and thus promote the activation of GnRH neurons to slow down aging.