We have reported that acupuncture could induce ovulation and the result was closely related to endogenous estrogen level, sympathetic reaction and gonadotropic pulsatile secretion.

Methods: Push-pull perfusion, in situhybridization immunohistochemisty, autoradiography and image procession techniques were used to investigate the re1ationship between estradiol (E) and hypothalamic endorphin (EP) activity during the process of GnRH-LH surge in rats and rabbits. Results: Before ovulation, serum E level peaked in front of GnRH peak and blood LH peak levels of the Median Eminence of the hypothalamus, accompanied with a significant decrease of ER receptor density of the arculate nucleus (P<0.01), showing a down-regulation. Simultaneously, the local POMCm RNA level lowered significantly (p<0.0l) in rats. It suggested that E induced ovulation was due to the release of suppression of hypothalamic GnRH via the abrupt lowering of endogenous opioid peptide synthesis in the arculate nucleus receptos. During ovulation induced by using classic CuAC method in the rabbit, hypothalamic MPO 6-EP level lowered, the p-receptor increased at first, followed by decrease (P<0.05, 0.0l ). And the pulsive secretion of GnRH peaked, suggesting an involvement of gene expression, presynaptic release of neurotransmitter and post-synaptic activity of hypothalamic ß-EP neurons. After acupuncture treatment following administration of E in the rabbit, the ovulation succeeded. After acupuncture treatment, GnRH pulse-like secretion appeared immediately (P<0.05). The effect of acupuncture was of specificity among different acupoints. MPO U- receptor density also increased immediately (P<0.05). It indicated that acupuncture-induced increase of GnRH release was not due to hypothalamic 6-EP activity. In 22 patients with dysfunctioal urterine bleeding, acupuncture could induce ovulation and the ovulation-inducing rate was up to 8l.8%. The serum E and central opioid peptide levels (in Naloxone test) were significantly higher in cases who succeeded in ovulation than those Who failed in ovulation after acupuncture (p<0.05). Ovulation inducing rate was 86.75% by acupuncture and 70% by clomiphene in the pubertal dysfunctional uterine bleeding and 60% by acupuncture in pubertal amenorrhea group.

Conclusion: Results demonstrates that acupuncture can promote ovulation.

By Yu Jin