title: Effects of Oriental Medicine Kyung-Ok-Ko on Uterine Abnormality in Hyperandrogenized Rats.
abstract: A traditional herbal prescription Kyung-Ok-Ko (KOK), composed of Rehmannia glutinosa Liboschitz var. purpurae, Lycium chinense, Aquilaria agallocha, Poria cocos, Panax ginseng, and honey, has been widely used in Oriental medicine as an invigorant for age-related diseases, such as amnesia and stroke. However, the beneficial value of KOK on uterine dysfunction related to hyperandrogenism is largely unknown. We investigated the effect of KOK (2.0 g/kg/day, per os) on endometrial abnormalities in a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, subcutaneous)-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) rat model. Preadministration of KOK significantly (p<0.05) decreased the elevated body weight, uterus weight, and endometrial thickness by PCOS induction, corresponding to reduced apoptosis and the infiltration of immune cells (CD4+T cells, CD8+T cells, and macrophages) in the endometrium. These results were associated with reduced mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and matrix metalloproteinase-3 and increased mRNA expression of IGF-β1, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, TGF-β1, and vascular endothelial growth factor in the uterus after DHEA injection. These multiple effects of KOK may synergistically prevent the development of endometrial abnormalities in DHEA-induced hyperandrogenism via anti-inflammatory action, indicating that KOK has preventive and therapeutic potential for suppressing PCOS.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Convergence Medical Science, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University , Seoul, Republic of Korea.|2 Brain Korea 21 Plus Program, Kyung Hee University , Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Convergence Medical Science, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University , Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Minhee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: 3 College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Medical Institute, Chonnam National University , Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chun-Sik
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Korean Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University , Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung-Sun
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University , Cheonan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hak-Jae
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 6 Department of Integrative Plant Science, Chung-Ang University , Anseong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sanghyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 7 Department of Medicinal Crop Research Institute, National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science , Rural Development Administration, Eumseong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 7 Department of Medicinal Crop Research Institute, National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science , Rural Development Administration, Eumseong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ock
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Convergence Medical Science, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University , Seoul, Republic of Korea.|2 Brain Korea 21 Plus Program, Kyung Hee University , Seoul, Republic of Korea.|8 Institute of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University , Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ik-Hyun
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; C000592339:kyung-ok-ko; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone
keywords: Kyung-Ok-Ko; dehydroepiandrosterone; endometrial abnormality; polycystic ovary syndrome