Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of acupuncture at acupoint of Shenshu(BL 23) in ovariectomized rats and sham-operated rats.METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following four groups(n = 12 each):sham operation only(Sham), sham operation with acupuncture(Sham + ACP), ovariectomy only(OVX), and ovariectomy with acupuncture(OVX +ACP). Operations were performed at the 9 th week of age. Acupuncture of Shenshu(BL 23) was started at the 11 th week of age and conducted 3 times per week until the 26 th week of age.RESULTS: Among ovariectomized rats, the acupuncture-treated rats had significantly lower bodyweights and cross-linked N-telopeptide of type 1 collagen levels in the urine after 3 weeks of acupuncture treatment, higher bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebra after 7 weeks, and smaller trabecular separation of the sixth lumbar vertebra,measured by micro-computed tomography, after17 weeks than control rats. These effects were not observed in sham-operated rats. Blood concentrations of estradiol were significantly higher in the OVX + ACP group than in the untreated group. Acupuncture treatment increased plasma testosterone levels in sham-operated rats, while this increase was not observed in OVX rats.CONCLUSION: Acupuncture of Shenshu(BL 23)prevents bone loss and structural changes by suppressing bone resorption.

Key words: Acupuncture, Point BL23(Shenshu), Estrogens, Osteoporosis, Ovariectomy