Objective To explore the effects and possible mechanism of acupuncture on the estrous cycle of rat model of hypo-ovarian reserve function. Methods A total of 40 SD female rats with normal estrus cycle were randomly divided into a blank group

a model group

an acupuncture group and a hormone group

with 10 rats in each group. Except for the blank group

rats were given tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside tablet suspension at 50 mg/（kg·d） for 14 days to establish hypo-ovarian reserve dysfunction model rat. In the acupuncture group

acupuncture intervention was performed one hour after gavage of tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside every day

and the acupoints of "Shenshu"（BL23）

"Guanyuan"（CV4） and Zhongwan（CV12） were selected

the needling was given for 10 s each time with retension for 10 minutes. Meanwhile

the hormone group was given sequence therapy of estrogen and progesterone. The estrous cycle of rats was observed from the 8 th day of the experiment. On the 15 th day. HE staining method was used to observe the development of follicles and corpus luteum in the ovaries of each group of rats; serum hormones including anti-Müllerian hormone（AMH）

estradiol（E

2

）

follicle stimulating hormone（FSH） and inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor alpha（TNF-α）

interleukin 21（IL-21）

interleukin 10（IL-10） levels were detected. The level of transcription factor nuclear factor E

2

related factor 2（Nrf2）

heme oxygenase 1（HO-1） protein expression and Nrf2

HO-1

nucleotide binding oligomerization domain receptor 3（NLRP3） relative mRNA expression quantity were detected. Results Compared with the blank group

the model group had prolonged or disordered estrous cycle

decreased granulosa cell layer of growth follicle

atrophy of corpus luteum

increased atresia follicle and inflammatory infiltration; serum AMH

E

2

IL-10 levels decreased

the levels ofFSH

TNF-α and IL-21 increased

the expression of Nrf2

HO-1 protein and mRNA in ovarian tissue decreased

and the NLRP3 mRNA increased（P

<

0.01）. Compared with the model group

the growth follicle granular cell layer increased in the acupuncture group and the hormone group

the atresia follicles and inflammatory infiltration decreased; serum AMH

E

2

IL-10 increased

FSH

IL-21 decreased; Nrf2

HO-1 and mRNA protein in ovarian tissue increased

NLRP3 mRNA decreased（P

<

0.05 or P

<

0.01）. There was no significant difference in all indicators between the acupuncture group and the hormone group（P

>

0.05）. Conclusion Acupuncture can restore the estrous cycle of rats with hypo-ovarian reserve function and effectively regulate the level of sex hormones in rats. The action may be related to inhibition of the NLRP3 mRNA expression by Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway to inhibit the inflammatory response.