[Effects of Bushen Huayu Qutan Recipe on local ovarian factors in androgen-sterilized rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of Bushen Huayu Qutan Recipe (BHQR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on local ovarian factors in androgen-sterilized rats (ASR).


METHODS
One hundred and five 9-day-old SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (15 rats) and ASR group (90 rats). ASR was induced by subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate, and the rat model of ASR was established successfully in 30 rats in the ASR group. Thirty ASR rats were randomly divided into untreated group and BHQR-treated group. There were 15 rats in each group. The rats in BHQR-treated group were intragastrically administered with BHQR. The rats in the normal control and untreated groups were intragastrically administered with distilled water. They were all treated for 30 days. The levels of serum testosterone and insulin (INS) were measured by radioimmunoassay. The inhibin (INH) level, and the expressions of insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in ovary were determined by immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
None of the ASR ovulated and all the rats in the normal control group ovulated. The rate of ovulation in BHQR-treated group was 66.67%. The serum concentrations of testosterone and INS in the untreated group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P<0.05), and the serum concentrations of testosterone and INS in BHQR-treated group were decreased as compared with the untreated group (P<0.05). The levels of ovarian INH, IGF-I and VEGF in the untreated group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P<0.01), and the levels of ovarian INH, IGF-I and VEGF in BHQR-treated group were decreased as compared with the untreated group (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
BHQR is an effective recipe in promoting ovulation, and the effects of BHQR on balancing the internal environment of ovary may be due to the reduction of serum INS level and decrease in the expressions of ovarian INH, IGF-I and VEGF.
Wang
Zhen-zhi
ZZ
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Yu
Chao-qin
CQ
D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043343:Testosterone Propionate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C533612:bushen huayu qutan; D007265:Inhibins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D043343:Testosterone Propionate