[Effect of zuoguiyin on the expression of ovarian follicle-stimulating hormone receptor in rats during peri-menopausal period].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect and mechanism of Zuoguiyin (ZGY, a Chinese medical remedy for regulating qi and nourishing yin) on expression of ovarian follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) in rats during peri-menopausal period (PMP).


METHODS
PMP rats were administered with low (13.78 g/kg), middle (20.67 g/kg) and high (31.00 g/kg) dose ZGY respectively by gastrogavage for eight weeks. FSHR mRNA and protein expressions were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively. Besides, granulosa cells, collected from pregnant mare serum treated nonage rats, were incubated, and the level of FSHR mRNA expression in the cultured cells were detected after various disposals.


RESULTS
(1) Ovarian levels of FSHR mRNA and protein expressions in PMP rats were significantly lower than those in young rats (P<0.01), but were up-regulated significantly by ZGY treatment (P<0.01). (2) As compared with the control, FSHR mRNA expression increased in cultured granulosa cells after treated by ZGY extract; the increasing effect of ZGY was enhanced by combined treatment with Forskolin and attenuated by Genistein (a tyrosine protein kinase inhibitor).


CONCLUSIONS
ZGY could improve the ovarian functions during PMP by up-regulating the expression of FSHR and raise the ovarian responsibility to FSH, which may be possibly realized by activating cAMP-protein kinase and tyrosine protein kinase signal pathway.
Department of Physiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086.
Wei
W
Zhao
Hai-xia
HX
Wen
Hui-li
HL
Zheng
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000378:metabolism*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011962:Receptors, FSH