Effects of Electroacupuncture on Regulating Cholesterol and Superoxide Dismutase Levels in Cats After Ovariohysterectomy

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Electroacupuncture (EA) has gained attention as a non-pharmacological intervention that can influence metabolic and oxidative pathways through autonomic and neuroendocrine regulation. Cholesterol and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are important indicators of lipid metabolism and redox status. The present study aimed to investigate the modulation of cholesterol and SOD activity following EA in cats after ovariohysterectomy, a model of chronic estrogen depletion associated with dysregulated lipid control and increased oxidative susceptibility. Fifteen healthy, neutered adult female domestic cats weighing 2-3 kilograms, aged 1-2 years, were assigned to three groups in a completely randomized design. One group served as the control with no EA treatment (Group 1), the second group received EA at bladder 18 (BL-18), spleen 6 (SP-6), and small intestine 3 points (SI-3; Group 2), and the third group received EA at stomach 36 (ST-36), BL-19, and liver 3 points (LIV-3; Group 3). The EA was administered five times at three-day intervals, with each session lasting 10 minutes. Blood samples were collected before and after treatment and analyzed for cholesterol and SOD using standard biochemical assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The present study was conducted over 15 days. Groups 2 and 3 demonstrated significant reductions in cholesterol levels compared to the control group. Group 2 achieved the lowest cholesterol level after EA, which was significantly lower than that of Group 3 and Group 1. Group 3 maintained significantly higher SOD levels than Group 2 and Group 1 before and after treatment, whereas no significant differences were observed between Group 1 and Group 2 at either time point. All groups demonstrated numerical decreases in SOD activity over the study period. The concurrent changes in cholesterol and SOD levels across treatment groups indicated interconnected physiological responses that improved lipid homeostasis and modulated oxidative stress. The present results demonstrated that EA supported coordinated regulation of metabolic and antioxidant pathways in neutered cats through distinct acupoint-specific mechanisms. These findings highlighted the potential of EA as a complementary approach for restoring metabolic-redox balance in animals with long-term endocrine alterations. The integrated changes in cholesterol and SOD underscored the relevance of acupuncture-based interventions for enhancing systemic homeostasis.

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