Mechanism of Bushen huoxue huatan recipe improving hyperandrogenism in androgen-induced sterile rats / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of Bushen huoxue huatan recipe (BHHR) on androgen-induced sterilized rats (ASR) and the expression of androgen synthase and metabolic enzymes in the ovary of ASR before and after treatment with BHHR, and to discuss the possible mechanism. Methods Female SD rats of 9-day old were injected subcutaneously with testosterone propionate (1. 25 mg) to create model. The model ratswere randomly divided into 3 groups: model group (treated with distilled water by gastrogavage, 10 mL/kg)' metformin therapy group (gastrogavage, 0. 1 g/kg) and BHHR therapy group (gastrogavage, 10 mL/kg)' with 13 animals in each group. Ten rats with normal estrous cycle served as normal controls. The body mass' sexual cycle recovery and ovary mass/body mass ratio were observed after 28-day treatment. Serum testosterone level was measured by radioimmunoassay; the expressions of 3(-hydroxylsteroid dehyrogenase (3β-HSD) cytochrome P450 17α-crhydroxylase/17, 20-lyase (CYP17) and P450 aromatase (P450arom) in ovary were detected by quantitative immunohistochemistry method. Results (1) Significantly more rats in the metformin and BHHR groups had sexual cycle recovery compared with that in themodtl group (P 0. 05). Conclusion BHHR can reduce serum testosterone levels in ASR rat, which might be through up-regulating the expression of the androgen metabolism enzyme P450arom.