Effect of Electroacupuncture on Cyclooxygenase-2 in Endometriosis Rats

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) in endometriosis(EMs) rats and explore the mechanism of its action in preventing rat EMs.Method A rat EMs model was maded.The rats were randomly assigned to model,EA,COX-2 inhibitor,P450arom inhibitor,ovariectomy and sham operation groups.The EA group received electroacupuncture at points Xuehai(SP10) and Sanyinjiao(SP6);the COX-2 inhibitor group,an oral gavage of a suspension of Celebrex in normal saline;the P450arom inhibitor group,an oral gavage of a suspension of Anastrozole in normal saline;the ovariectomy group,surgical removal of both ovaries;the sham operation and model groups;binding fixation and an oral gavage of normal saline.All groups of rats were sacrificed after two and four weeks of treatment or control treatment.The length,width and height of the ectopic cyst were determined.An average value was calculated.The ectopic tissue was taken and examined histopathologically.The level of COX-2 in serum and the tissue and the expression of COX-2 mRNA in the tissue were measured.Result The average values of the three diameters of the ectopic cyst were significantly larger in the model group than in the other groups(all P0.05) and significantly smaller in the EA group than in the model group(P0.05).A comparison between two and four weeks in the EA group showed that the ectopic cyst grew slowly,the ectopic inner membrane tended to atrophy and part of the epithelia became necrotic.The level of COX-2 in serum and the ectopic intimal tissue and the expression of COX-2 mRNA in the ectopic intimal tissue were significantly lower in the EA group than in the model group(P0.05).The effects became more marked as the course of treatment lengthened.Conclusion Electroacupuncture may prevent the occurrence and development of EMs in rats by regulating abnormally high COX-2 mRNA levels,affecting the synthesis of COX-2 and downregulating the expression of COX-2 in peripheral blood and the local tissues.