title: [Estrogen-like effects of Menoprogen on female ovariectomized rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the estrogen-like action mechanism of Menoprogen on ovariectomized female rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovariectomized rat model (OVX) was established and estradiol (17beta-estradiol, E2) was used as positive control. The uterine coefficient and serum E2 level were determined after administration of Menoprogen for 2 weeks. The uterine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), water channel protein (aquaporin, AQP), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and the expression of proto-oncogenes (c-jun, c-fos) were observed by immunohistochemical method. Yeast two-hybrid assay was applied to detect the existence of components combining with ERalpha or ERbeta in Menoprogen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both Menoprogen and E2 could significantly elevate the uterine coefficient of OVX rats, increase the level of serum E2 and up-regulate the expressions of VEGF, AQP2 as well as AQP5 in uterus. E2, not as E2 Menoprogen couldn't promote the expressions of ERalpha, PR, c-jun and c-fos in OVX rat uterus. And yeast two-hybrid assay showed no components combining with ERalpha or ERbeta in Menoprogen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Menoprogen has estrogen-like effect, and can be used to treat menopause syndrome. The risk of estrogen-mediated endometrial cancer is low for this treatment because its mechanism is different from estrogen-like substances.
authors.affiliation: Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China. lixuanrose@163.com
authors.forename: Xuanxuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Hwa Chung
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Mi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051399:Aquaporin 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051402:Aquaporin 5 / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051399:Aquaporin 2; D051402:Aquaporin 5; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004967:Estrogens; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C529990:menoprogen; D004958:Estradiol