title: Effects of tokishakuyakusan, keishibukuryogan and unkeito on DNA polymerase alpha activity in uteri of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin-treated immature rats.
abstract: To provide some insights how herbal medicines affect deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis in the uterus, the DNA polymerase activities (alpha and beta) in uterine samples taken from rats were measured. DNA polymerase alpha activity with respect to DNA content revealed alpha cyclic change with the highest level on proestrus, while DNA polymerase beta activity showed no significant changes during the estrous cycle. The increased period of the activity coincided with that of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) but not progesterone (P4) in the blood. Injection of 10 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMS) on day 27 of age gradually increased DNA polymerase alpha activity in uteri, while concomitant treatment with PMS and 200 micrograms Tokishakuyakusan (TS), Keishibukuryogan (KB) or Unkeito (UT) suppressed the enzyme activity, with a most remarkable effect of KB. These results suggest that TS, KB or UT suppresses in vivo DNA polymerase alpha activity induced by PMS in the rat uterus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; C413220:toki-shakuyaku-san; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D004247:DNA; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase