Effect of Xihuang pills on apoptosis and expression of ER and PR in rat mammary epithelial cells / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To investigate the effect of Xihuang pills on estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P)-induced apoptosis of rat mammary epithelial cells and the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, and to explore its anti-mammary hyperplasia mechanism. Methods Rat mammary epithelial cells were treated with different concentrations of Xihuangpills containing serumafter E2, P induced proliferation. The cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 method (24, 48, 72 h). The apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry after AnnexinV-FITC/PI double staining. The average optical density of Bax and Bcl-2 was detected by immunohistochemistry; Estradiol receptor alpha (ER-α), estradiol receptor beta (ER-β), progesterone receptor (PR) protein expression were detected by Western blot. Results The serum containing Xihuang pillssignificantly inhibitedthe proliferation of rat mammary epithelial cells after E2and P treatment (P < 0. 05), and induced apoptosis, affecting the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2 and Bax (P < 0. 05), and effectively inhibiting the expression of estrogen receptors ERα, ERβ. Conclusions Xihuang pills can induce the apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells by regulating related apoptotic proteins, and regulate the secretion of estrogen and progesterone in breast tissues, affecting the proliferation and rejuvenation of breast, which is of great significance for the treatment of breast hyperplasia.