RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Tibial nerve stimulation increases vaginal blood perfusion and bone mineral density and yield load in ovariectomized rat menopause model
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.12.03.469332
DO 10.1101/2021.12.03.469332
A1 Jiajie Jessica Xu
A1 Lauren L. Zimmerman
A1 Vanessa Soriano
A1 Georgios Mentzelopoulos
A1 Eric Kennedy
A1 Elizabeth C. Bottorff
A1 Chris Stephan
A1 Kenneth Kozloff
A1 Maureen J. Devlin
A1 Tim M. Bruns
YR 2022
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/02/02/2021.12.03.469332.abstract
AB Introduction and Hypothesis Human menopause transition and post-menopausal syndrome, driven by reduced ovarian activity and estrogen levels, are associated with an increased risk for symptoms including but not limited to sexual dysfunction, metabolic disease, and osteoporosis. Current treatments are limited in efficacy and may have adverse consequences, so investigation for additional treatment options is necessary. Previous studies have demonstrated that tibial nerve stimulation (TNS) or electro-acupuncture near the tibial nerve are minimally invasive treatments that increase vaginal blood perfusion or serum estrogen in the rat model. We hypothesized that TNS would protect against harmful reproductive and systemic changes associated with menopause.Methods We examined the effects of twice weekly TNS (0.2 ms pulse width, 20 Hz, 2x motor threshold) under ketamine-xylazine anesthesia in ovariectomized (OVX) female Sprague Dawley rats on menopause-associated physiological parameters including serum estradiol, body weight, blood glucose, bone health, and vaginal blood flow. Rats were split into three groups (n = 10 per group): 1) intact control (no stimulation), 2) OVX control (no stimulation), and 3) OVX stimulation (treatment group).Results TNS did not affect serum estradiol levels, body weight, or blood glucose. TNS transiently increased vaginal blood perfusion during stimulation for up to 5 weeks after OVX and increased areal bone mineral density and yield load of the right femur (side of stimulation) compared to the unstimulated OVX control.Conclusion TNS may ameliorate some symptoms associated with menopause. Additional studies to elucidate the full potential of TNS on menopause-associated symptoms under different experimental conditions are warranted.Summary Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation increases vaginal blood perfusion, areal bone mineral density, and femur yield load in an ovariectomized rat model of menopause.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.