ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effect of Yinhuotang （YHT） on the depression-like behavior of mice with bilateral ovariectomy （OVX） induced by chronic stress and explore its action mechanism based on estradiol （E<sub>2</sub>）-estrogen receptor <italic>β </italic>（ER<italic>β</italic>） pathway. Method:The experiment was divided into two parts. In the first part， mice were randomly divided into the sham operation （Sham） group， model （OVX） group， positive drug （E<sub>2</sub>， 0.13 mg·kg<sup>-1</sup>） group， and YHT （23.4 g·kg<sup>-1</sup>） group. The OVX model was reproduced by OVX combined with chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS）. On the 8th day after OVX， the mice in each group were exposed to CUMS and treated with drugs. The changes in immobility time， horizontal movement score， and vertical movement score of mice in each group were observed in forced swimming test （FST）， tail suspension test （TST） and open-field test （OFT）， respectively. Serum and brain E<sub>2</sub> levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， the aromatizing enzyme （Cyp19） mRNA expression by real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， the expression of ER<italic>α</italic> and ER<italic>β</italic> in dentate gyrus of hippocampus by immunohistochemistry （IHC）， and the total ER<italic>α</italic> and ER<italic>β</italic> levels in the brain by Western blotting. In the second part， the mice were divided into the Sham group， OVX group， YHT group， and blocker （Y+B， 23.4 g·kg<sup>-1</sup>+100 μg·kg<sup>-1</sup>） group. Mice in the Y+B group were first treated with intragastric administration of YHT and then with intraperitoneal injection of ER<italic>β</italic> blocker （PHTPP） on the next day. The changes in immobility time， horizontal motor score， and vertical motor score were observed in the three behavioral tests. Result:Compared with the Sham group， the OVX group displayed significantly increased immobility time， decreased horizontal and vertical movement scores （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， down-regulated serum and brain E<sub>2 </sub>levels （<italic>P</italic><0.01） and Cyp19 mRNA expression in the brain （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and up-regulated total ER<italic>β</italic> in dentate gyrus and brain （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. However， there was no significant change in total ER<italic>α</italic> expression in the dentate gyrus or brain. As revealed by comparison with the OVX group， the immobility time of the E<sub>2</sub> group was decreased significantly， while the horizontal and vertical movement scores were increased significantly （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The E<sub>2</sub> levels in the serum was significantly elevated （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The Cyp19 mRNA expression in the brain and the total ER<italic>α</italic> expression in the dentate gyrus and brain were not significantly changed， while the expression levels of total ER<italic>β</italic> in dentate gyrus and brain were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. In the YHT group， the immobility time declined significantly， and the horizontal and vertical movement scores rose significantly （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The serum E<sub>2</sub> did not increase， whereas the brain E<sub>2</sub> increased significantly （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The expression of Cyp19 gene in the brain was significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）. There was no significant change in the total ER<italic>α</italic> of dentate gyrus and brain， but the expression levels of total ER<italic>β</italic> in dentate gyrus and brain were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）. PHTPP reversed the effects of YHT on OVX mice in FST， TST and OFT. Conclusion:YHT promotes the synthesis and release of endogenous estrogen in brain and improves the depression-like behavior of OVX mice induced by chronic stress， which is possibly related to the activation of E<sub>2</sub>/ER<italic>β</italic> pathway.
ABSTRACT
Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), the main protein component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), plays a pivotal role in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). Previous studies indicated a reduction of serum ApoA-I levels in various types of cancer, suggesting ApoA-I as a potential cancer biomarker. Herein, ectopically overexpressed ApoA-I in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells was observed to have antitumor effects, inhibiting cell proliferation and migration. Subsequent studies on the mechanism of expression regulation revealed that estradiol (E2)/estrogen receptor α (ERα) signaling activates
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation between efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) on mammary gland hyperplasia (MGH) and the regulatory pathway of intercostal nerve.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty female SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group (group A, 12 rats), a model group (group B, 12 rats), an EA group (group C, 13 rats) and an intercostal nerve transection group (group D, 13 rats). The rats in the group B, group C and group D were prepared into MGH model; after model was successfully prepared, the 7th intercostal nerve was cut off in the group D. EA was applied at back acupoints including bilateral "Tianzong" (SI 11), "Ganshu" (BL 18) and "Shenshu" (BL 23) as well as chest acupoints including bilateral "Wuyi" (ST 15), "Hegu" (LI 4) and "Danzhong" (CV 17) in the group C and D. The two groups of acupoints were selected alternately. EA was given for 20 min, once a day; 5-day treatment was taken as one course; there was an interval of 2 days between course; totally 20 treatments were given. After treatment, the height and diameter of papilla were observed; the contents of serum estradiol (E) and progestin (P), the expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and progestrone receptor (PR) in mammary gland were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The height and diameter of papilla: after treatment, the height and diameter of papilla in the group C were significantly smaller than those in the group B (both<0.05); the height and diameter of left-side papilla in the group D were significantly bigger than those in the group C (both<0.05). (2) Serum Eand P: after treatment, compared with the group B, the contents of Eand E/P were reduced and the content of P was increased in the group C and group D (all<0.05). Compared with the group C, the contents of Eand E/P were increased and the content of P was reduced in the group D (all<0.05). (3) ERα and PR in mammary gland: compared with the group B, the content of ERαwas decreased and the content of PR was increased in the group C (both<0.05). Compared with the group C, the content of ERαwas increased and the content of PR was decreased in the group D ((both<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The efficacy mechanism of EA for MGH is likely to be related with the pathway of intercostal nerve; the mechanism may be acupuncture regulating the contents of serum Eand P as well as contents of ERα and PR in mammary gland.</p>
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the regulating effect of thyroid pathway on electroacupuncture (EA) for mammary gland hyperplasia (MGH) so as to provide new research ideas for the mechanism of EA for MGH and to provide the evidence for clinical application.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty adult female SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an EA group, an EA with thyroidectomy group, an EA with sham operation group, 12 rats in each one. Except the blank group, the MGH model was established. Thyroid ablation was performed in the EA with thyroidectomy group, and sham operation was used in the EA with sham operation group, exposing thyroid without excision, 1 day after model establishment. EA was applied in the EA, the EA with thyroidectomy, and the EA with sham operation groups on the 4th day after model establishment, and not used in the other groups, but catching, routine disinfection and fixation were all the same as the above groups. The acupoints in the group A were bilateral "Tianzong" (SI 11), "Ganshu" (BL 18) and "Zusanli" (ST 36); and those in the group B were bilateral "Wuyi" (ST 15), "Hegu" (LI 4) and "Danzhong" (CV 17). The two groups of points were alternately used. EA, continuous wave, 2 Hz and 1 mA, was connected at "Tianzong" (SI 11) and "Ganshu" (BL 18), "Wuyi" (ST 15) and "Hegu" (LI 4) at the same side, 2 pairs EA a time, 20 min a time, once a day. All the intervention was given for 4 courses, 5 times as 1 course with 2 days between courses. After intervention, the height and diameter of the rat papilla were measured. Estrogen (E) and progestational hormone (P) in the serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the contents and protein expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR) in the mammary glands were detected by immunofluorescence and Western-blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The height and diameter of papilla in the model group increased compared with those in the blank group (both <0.01). The height and diameter of papilla in the EA, EA with sham operation groups reduced compared with those in the model group (all <0.01). Those in the EA with thyroidectomy group were lower than those in the model group, without statistical significance (both >0.05). (2) Compared with the blank group, E increased and P decreased in the model group (both <0.01). Compared with the model group, E decreased and P increased in the EA and EA with sham operation groups (all <0.01). The contents of E and P had no statistical significance between the model and the EA with thyroidectomy groups (both >0.05). (3) Compared with the blank group, the ERα content and protein expression increased and the PR content and protein expression decreased in the model group (all <0.01). Compared with the model group, the ERα content and protein expression decreased and the PR content and protein expression increased in the EA and EA with sham operation groups (all <0.01). The ERα and PR content and protein expression had no statistical significance between the model and the EA with thyroidectomy groups (all >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The effect of EA for MGH may be closely related to the regulation of thyroid.</p>