title: Study of Luan-Pao-Prescription on ovarian dysfunction in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Luan-Pao-Prescription (LPP) has been clinically proven to be effective on infertility. In the present study we explored the improvement and underlying mechanism of LPP on ovarian dysfunction in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  13 month old female rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the Saline group, the LPP groups treated by low (1.67 g/kg), and high-dose (5 g/kg) LPP respectively, and the hormone group treated by pregnant mare gonadotrophin serum and chorionic gonadotrophin (PMSG/hCG). The estrous cycle was determined by daily observation of vaginal smears; serum estradiol and testosterone were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; ovarian morphology, ovary volume and fertility of female rats were all detected during the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 21 days of LPP treatment, about 20% increase of rats with regular estrous cycle of 4-6 days was found, but no change was detected on serum estradiol and testosterone at the dose of 1.67 g/kg and 5 g/kg LPP. Both ovary index and uterus index were up-regulated significantly at the dose of 5 g/kg LPP, but no regulation on oviduct index, adrenal gland index, pancreatic gland index and spleen index was observed at the two LPP groups. 5 g/kg LPP increased total number of pregnant mothers and the offspring; however there are no offspring in PMSG/hCG group. The offspring exhibited similar body weight in each treatment, and no apparent malformation was found for the cubs. While PMSG/hCG treatment increased the ovary index, serum estradiol and testosterone concentration considerably, but no improvement was found on estrous cycle, oviduct index, uterus index, and reproduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of LPP may have comparable benefits for ovarian dysfunction, but with fewer side effects. Oral LPP have a better overall influence on rats than PSMG/hCG; it may be more effective in improvement of estrous cycle, ovary function and reproduction.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Baohong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Kejia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yanling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lingzhi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yingchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wanying
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shuhong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yuxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.lastname: Dean-Guo
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol