Effect of Acupuncture on Ovary Morphology and Function in DHEA-Induced Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Model Rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of acupuncture on ovary morphology and function in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) model rats. METHODS: A total of 40 adult female Wistar rats were randomly allocated to 4 groups by a random number table, including control, model, metformin and acupuncture groups, 10 rats in each group. PCOS rat model was developed by injecting with DHEA (6 mg/100 g body weight) in 0.2 mL of oil subcutaneously. Electrical stimulation (2 Hz, 3 mA) was applied to Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA1) and Qihai (CV 6) acupoints for 30 min daily in the acupuncture group, and metformin (200 mg/kg) was given to rats in the metformin group, both once per day for 21 consecutive days, and rats in the normal group was fed with normal saline and fed regularly. After 21 days of administration, the rat blood samples were collected for detecting the reproductive hormonal levels [luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), testosterone (T)] and inflammatory factors (visfatin, IL-6) analysis. Ovary tissue was used for histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, rats in the acupuncture and metformin groups were significantly lower in weight gain, FSH, LH and T levels, and E2 and P levels significantly increased (alll P<0.05). Meanwhile, LH and FSH levels were significantly decreased, and P, T and E2 levels significantly increased in the acupuncture group, compared with the metformin group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, IL-6 and visfatin levels were significantly decreased in the acupuncture and metformin groups (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in IL-6 and visfatin levels between the acupuncture and metformin groups (P>0.05). Ovarian diameter in the acupuncture and metformin groups were smaller than the model group (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in ovarian diameters between the acupuncture and metformin groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture might improve ovary morphology and its function in DHEA-induced PCOS model rats.

[Catalytic Combustion of Soot Particulates over Rare Earth Pyrochlore Oxides Doped with Transition Metals].

Catalytic combustion is an efficient way to remove soot particulates from automobile exhausts. A series of rare earth pyrochlore oxides La2Sn1.8TM0.2O7 (TM=Sn, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu) were prepared with CTAB-assisted sol-gel method. The products were characterized by XRD,N2 Adsorption-Desorption, SEM, FT-IR, H2-TPR and PL techniques. Their catalytic activity for soot oxidation was investigated by TPO under tight conditions in both O2 and NO+O2 atmospheres. After calcination at 900℃, the as-synthesized oxides with pure pyrochlore phase displayed nanospheres with diameter of 30-60 nm and relatively large surface areas. The partial substitution of Sn with transition metals largely influenced the reduction behavior of pyrochlores especially on the low temperature range in H2-TPR profiles, which was due to the interactions between Sn and transition metals. The improved oxygen mobility might be derived from the structure defects induced by transition metals doping, which could be helpful in oxidation reactions. In comparison with uncatalyzed reactions, the La2Sn2O7 catalyst exhibited modest catalytic activity for soot combustion, while transition metals incorporation further enhanced the activity and selectivity. The improved activity of transition metals doped samples was likely to be associated with the improved reducibility and increased surface oxygen vacancies on the pyrochlore oxides. The presence of NO in the gas phase significantly enhanced the soot oxidation activity, which was due to the promotion effect of NO2. Especially, the densities of active oxygen sites and turnover frequency (TOF) values of the catalysts, quantified by isothermal anaerobic titration with soot as a probe molecule, were used to explain the different soot combustion behaviors. Among the pyrochlore oxides, the Co-doped pyrochlore sample displayed the highest ignition activity and the largest intrinsic activity with TOF of 3.20×10-3 s-1.