Electroacupuncture attenuates chronic salpingitis transforming growth factor-β1/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on rats with chronic fallopian tube inflammation and its potential mechanisms. METHODS: Thirty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into Control, Model and EA groups. The pathological morphology of the fallopian tubes was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining. The results of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphorylation (p)-p38MAPK in rat oviduct tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results of P38MAPK, p-P38MAPK and TGF-β1 in rat oviduct tissues were detected by immunofluorescence. The expression level of p38MAPK, p-P38MAPK, TGF-β1 protein in rats was detected by Western blot. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1. RESULTS: It found that collagen fibers counts decreased significantly in EA group compared to Model group. The phosphorylation of P38MAPK in EA group was significantly reduced compared to Model group. The serum TGF-β1 expressions in EA group increased decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture was able to attenuate chronic salpingitis through down-regulating TGF-β1/MAPK signaling pathway.