[Effects on secretory function of rat gonad by Erxian decoction and its disassembled prescriptions].
OBJECTIVE
To explain functions, differences and coordination of three divided combinations of the "Erxian decoction", the famous traditional Chinese formula, on the effective sites of gonad gland at the cell level.


METHODS
The effects of Erxian decoction and its main disassembled prescriptions, "Kidney Warming", "Yin Nourishing" and "Chong-ren Adjusting", on the level of testosterone (T) progesterone (P) estradiol (E2), respectively secreted by the primary culture Leydig cell, luteal cell and granulosa cell, were measured by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
(1) Erxian decoction could stimulate the T secretion while its three main disassembled prescriptions would seem no individual promoting effect on the secretion of T. (2) Erxian decoction and the "Kidney Warming" had the stimulating effect on P secretion, and the action of the whole formula being better than that of the "Kidney Warming". (3) Erxian decoction and its main disassembled prescriptions had the stimulating effect on E2 secretion, especially the whole formula.


CONCLUSIONS
Erxian decoction can stimulate the secretion of T of the Leydig cell, P of luteal cell and E2 of granulosa cell. It can be seen that the effect of the whole formula is better than that of its main disassembled prescriptions.
Liu
Qing
Q
Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
Shi
Jian-rong
JR
Yang
Ying
Y
Fang
Zhao-qing
ZQ
Liang
Shang-hua
SH
Guo
Rui-xin
RX
D031403:Anemarrhena / Q000737:chemistry; D029971:Angelica sinensis / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D031408:Curculigo / Q000737:chemistry; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D034181:Epimedium / Q000737:chemistry; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006066:Gonads / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008184:Luteal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D032066:Morinda / Q000737:chemistry; D032102:Phellodendron / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol