| Evidence Sentence: |
The serum levels of insulin, neuropeptide Y(NPY) and fasting blood glucose(FBG) increased significantly (both p < 0.01), while the serum levels of ghrelin(GHRL) decreased in the model group (p < 0.01). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
After treatment with EA, the levels of NPY (p < 0.01) and FBG (p < 0.05) went into decrease, whereas the levels of GHRL (p < 0.05) and insulin (p < 0.01) increased. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
The upregulation of NPY mRNA and neuropeptide Y2 receptor(NPY2R) mRNA and the downregulation of GHRL protein and mRNA in the hypothalamus, and the increased expression of NPY and NPY2R as well as the decreased expression of GHRL in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) can be rescued by EA. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
In comparison with the normal rats, the serum NPY level showed a significant increase in the model rats (P < 0.01). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
EA and SA both reversed this increasing level of NPY (both P < 0.01) (Fig 3D). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Expression of GAL, GALP, GHRL and NPY in the hypothalamus |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Unfortunately, we failed to detect the protein expression of NPY in the hypothalamus. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Compared with group N, NPY mRNA increased significantly in the model group (p< 0.05), and both EA and SA downregulated NPY mRNA expression (p< 0.05) (Fig 4G). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Expression of GHRL, NPY, NPY2R and GHSR in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) |
| Evidence Sentence: |
According to the RT-PCR and WB results, we found that there were differences in the expression of NPY and GHRL in the hypothalamus. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Given that the arcuate nucleus (ARC) is a key site of the reproductive regulatory system and the energy regulating system, therefore, we performed an immunohistochemistry test to determine the expression of NPY, GHRL and their receptor in the ARC. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
The results showed that the number of NPY-positive cells in the ARC in group M was much greater than the number in the N, EA, and SA groups (all P < 0.05), but there was no difference between these groups. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
The upregulation of NPY mRNA and neuropeptide Y2 receptor(NPY2R) mRNA and the downregulation of GHRL protein and mRNA in the hypothalamus, and the increased expression of NPY and NPY2R as well as the decreased expression of GHRL in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) can be rescued by EA. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Co-expression of kisspeptin and GHSR, and co-expression of gonadotrophin releasing hormone(GnRH) and NPY2R were observed in ARC. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
NPY2R mRNA was lower in group M than group N (P < 0.01). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
After treatment with EA or SA, NPY2R mRNA levels in rats with PCOS obviously increased (both P < 0.01) (Fig 4I). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Expression of GHRL, NPY, NPY2R and GHSR in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Meanwhile, the number of GHRL-positive cells in the ARC in group M was much lower than the number in groups N and EA (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively), but there was no difference between groups M and SA (Fig 5).There was some attenuated immunoreactivity of NPY2R in the ARC in group M compared with group N (P < 0.05), but when treated with EA or SA, the immunoreactivity of NPY2R was enhanced remarkably (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively) (Fig 5). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Co-expression of NPY2R and GnRH, GHSR and kisspeptin in the ARC |
| Evidence Sentence: |
In addition, we also observed co-expression of NPY2R and GnRH in the ARC. |
