title: [Experimental study on treatment of endometriosis with xiaochaihu decoction].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of Xiaochaihu Decoction (XCHD) on ectopic endometrium in rats with endometriosis and its mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rat model of endometriosis was established and rats were divided into 5 groups, the low dosage of XCHD group (5 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) , n = 10) , the medium dosage of XCHD group (10 g x kg(-1) x d(-1), n =10), the high dosage of XCHD group (15 g x kg(-1) x d(-1), n = 10) , the danazol group(0. 1 g x kg(-1) x d(-1), n =9) and the control group(20 ml x kg(-1) x d(-1) distilled water, n = 10). After treated for four successive weeks, the effect of XCHD on ectopic endometrium was evaluated by observing the changes in transmission electron microscopy. Fas and Caspase-3 protein expression in endometrium and endometriotic tissue were observed by immunohistochemistry method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ectopic endometrial growth was markedly inhibited (P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01) in all the XCHD groups; Fas and Caspase-3 protein expressions of ectopic endometrial tissue were higher than those in the endometrium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  XCHD could inhibit the growth of the ectopic endometrium in rats with experimentally induced endometriosis. The therapeutic mechanism may be related to promoting the apoptosis in ectopic endometrial tissue by increasing Fas protein expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou (510632). tlihzh@jnu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Lian-dong
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Zuo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019014:fas Receptor; C550200:xiaochaihu; D053148:Caspase 3