We explored the effects of combination of acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs in treating model rats with
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and to explore whether acupuncture has positive effects on the absorption of salvianolic
acid B in the extracts of a Chinese medicine formula when treating the model rats. 60 female Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were
randomly divided into Groups A, B, C, D, E and F, with ten rats in each group. Except Group F, all of the other rats were
induced to PCOS with oral administration of letrozole. The rats in Group F served as normal controls. Group A was treated
with acupuncture. Group B was treated with oral administration of the extracts of the Chinese medicine formula. Group C
was treated with a combination of oral administration of the extracts of Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Group D received
western medicine as positive controls. After treatment, the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing
hormone(LH) and testosterone (T) in each group were detected with the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) and
the serum concentration of salvianolic acid B were determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
The serum levels of T and the ratio of LH/FSH in Group A, B. C, D, and F were significantly lower than those of Group E,
indicating the model rats with PCOS were successfully established. Compared with Groups A, B, D and E, the serum levels
of T and the ratio of LH/FSH in Group C were significantly lower respectively, indicating combination of acupuncture and
Chinese medicinal herbs can significantly enhance curative effects in treating model rats with PCOS. The concentration of
serum salvianolic acid Group C was significantly higher than Group B, indicating that acupuncture might improve the
absorption of salvianolic acid B from the extracts of
Salvia miltiorrhiza
Bunge in the Chinese medicine formula.
Combination of acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs significantly enhance curative effects in treating model rats with
PCOS and acupuncture has positive effects in improving the absorption of salvianolic acid B in the extracts of the Chinese
medicine formula when treating the model rats with PCOS.