BACKGROUND
Perimenopausal syndrome (PPS) is also known as climacteric syndrome,
whose main symptoms include endocrine dyscrasia and neurasthenia induced
by the degeneration of ovarian functions2. It is also
known as a perimenopausal disorder in traditional Chinese medicine. As a
disease in women, PPS mainly occurs around the time of menopause.
According to a study by Lijuan et.a.l 3, the
probability of having PPS in women is the highest (92.10%) among ages
45 to 55 years, and PPS seriously affects their quality of life and
living standard3. The perimenopausal syndrome is a
disease with high morbidity. It can have severe physical and
psychological effects on perimenopausal women. According to modern
medicine, the diseases’ significant causes include the central nervous
system and the autonomic nervous system. The primary treatment is
hormone replacement therapy, which can relieve climacteric symptoms and
negative emotions, but it has side effects4. Other
research shows that long-term hormone therapy increases breast cancer
risk, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and other related
diseases4. Therefore, the exploration of new
treatments is vital for improving the quality of life of women.
Estrogen is of great significance in the regular operation of the female
endocrine system5. Receptors respond to estrogen for
estrogen to exert its effect. It is interesting to note that estrogen’s
primary receptor, ER-α, is closely linked to neuron growth, function,
and structure. Contemporary literature shows that estradiol (E2)’s
positive influence on gonadotropin secretion occurs primarily in the
hypothalamus; however, it negatively influences the pituitary
gland6. The leading causes of PPS include low estrogen
levels and degeneration of ovarian function. Therefore, an increase in
estrogen levels provides a foundation for treating PPS.
Zhuang Medicated Thread Moxibustion (ZMTM) is a characteristic surgical
procedure established on the theory of ”yin-yang basis”, the
man-nature theory featured by the synchrony of triple initial energy,
and the theory of ”Sandao lianglu ” which is concerned with the
tract for the digestion and absorption of food, tract of water, tract of
energy, tract of blood, and sensing tract1.
The procedure for ZMTM entails a ramie thread (No. 2 thread with
a diameter of 70 mm), which is first soaked in Chinese herbs and then
ignited and applied on the patient’s special acupoints to stimulate
those acupoints through heat and medicine. Therefore, energy can be
regulated after treatment on the body surface (or acupoints) and the
blood and the sensing tract1.
According to the literature, the expression of specific factors can be
regulated, and cell apoptosis improved through
ZMTM7,8. When ovariectomized rabbits are treated with
ZMTM, the interleukin-2 (IL-2) level in their serum can be increased.
The high rates of apoptosis in splenocytes can be improved, their
immunity can be enhanced, and the negative influence on the uterus shape
and ER-α expressions improved7,8. Based on previous
studies’ results, this study was designed from the perspective of
time-sensitive effects of ZMTM on the level of estrogen in
perimenopausal model rats. Therefore, the aim is to investigate the
influence of ZMTM on the changes of estrogen in PPS and related
features, which can thus provide a reference and favorable implication
for clinical application.