ArticleChinese medicine2025
Distinct mechanisms of electroacupuncture and manual acupuncture in modulating hypothalamic GnRH-tanycyte unit function of polycystic ovary syndrome.
Article in Chinese medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Clinical efficacy of acupuncture for women with PCOS undergoing IVF/ICSI: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Pooled it
- Efficacy of acupuncture therapies for polycystic ovary syndrome: a network meta-analysis.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Pooled it
- Acupuncture in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Narrative Review of Neuroendocrine-Immune Evidence, Reproductive Outcomes, and Evidence Gaps.International journal of women's health · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex neuroendocrine disorder characterized by dysregulation of the hypothalamus. Both electroacupuncture (EA) and manual acupuncture (MA) have demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of PCOS through improvements in hypothalamic function. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons are pivotal in regulating hypothalamic endocrine function, whereas tanycyte, a specialized glial cell type, potentially contribute to this process.
methodsA dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced PCOS-like mouse model was used to investigate the effects of acupuncture. Tissue clearing and three-dimensional (3D) imaging were employed to visualize the hypothalamic GnRH neuronal network and assess postacupuncture modifications. Transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify changes in the gene profiles associated with EA and MA. Rax-CreER
resultsEA significantly alleviated neuroendocrine dysfunction in PCOS-like mice by restoring the density and coverage of GnRH axonal projections. MA displayed similar therapeutic effects but had less pronounced effects on GnRH axons. Transcriptome analysis revealed distinct mechanisms for these two approaches: EA primarily regulates neuroglial plasticity, whereas MA predominantly targets neurotransmitter regulation. Both EA and MA share a common therapeutic target in the integrin family. Functional studies in Rax-CreER
conclusionsEA exerts therapeutic effects on PCOS by targeting hypothalamic GnRH-tanycyte unit, with Itgb1 identified as a key factor. MA primarily functions through neurotransmitter regulation. These findings highlight potential hypothalamic targets and provide new insights into the distinct mechanisms of EA and MA.
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