Effects of Shenpang acupoint-stimulation on estrogen receptor immunoreactive neurons in thalamus of rabbits

Abstract

To investigate the effects of Shenpang acupoint-stimulation in reproductive endocrinology, the changes in estrogen receptor immunoreactive (ER-IR) neurons after Shenpang acupoint-stimulation were studied by using immunohistochemistry. ER-IR positive reactions were detected in most nuclei of the thalamus. In the acupuncture-treated group, a great number of ER-IR positive neurons with clear dendrites existed in the nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, ventrolateral nucleus, ventromedial nucleus, ventroprincipal nucleus, centromedian nucleus, reticular nucleus, and periventricular nucleus of thalamus, and they were strongly stained. In addition, the ER-IR positive neurons were mainly located in the cytoplasm, nucleus and neutrite, and some also existed in the cytoplasmic membrane. In contrast, a few neurons existed in the above-mentioned nuclei in the control group, but they were slightly stained. It is concluded that Shenpang acupoint-stimulation can promote the expression of estrogen receptors in the above nuclei.

Keywords

rabbit, electrical acupuncture, Shenpang acupoint, estrogen receptor, thalamus