[Effects of osthol on androgen level and nitric oxide synthase activity in castrate rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of osthol on androgen level and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in castrate rats.


METHODS
Immature castrate male rats were treated with osthol daily for 20 d. The levels of testosterone(T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in serum and the activity of NOS, the nitric monoxide (NO) level in penis tissue were determined.


RESULTS
T( P < 0.05), LH( P < 0.05) and FSH( P < 0.01) were significantly increased at the high dose of osthol treatment. The high and low dose of osthol treatment significantly enhanced the activity of NOS (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Osthol could increase androgen, gonadotropin and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. It suggested that osthol had androgen-like effect and gonadotropin-like effect.
Yuan
Juanli
J
Guangxi College of TCM, Nanning 530001.
Xie
Jinxian
J
Li
Aiyuan
A
Zhou
Fang
F
D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D031048:Cnidium / Q000737:chemistry; D003374:Coumarins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009919:Orchiectomy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D003374:Coumarins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006062:Gonadotropins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; C046627:osthol