Effects of Heyan Kuntai Capsule () on Follicular Development and Oocyte Cohesin Levels in Aged Mice / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of Heyan Kuntai Capsule (, HYKT) on the ovarian function of aged mice and expressions of cohesion complexes in oocytes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-five 9-month-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 5 groups by block randomization method (n=5 per group), including the control group (saline), 17β-estradiol group [E, 100 μg/(kg•d)], and low-, medium-, and highdose of HYKT groups [0.3, 0.9, 2.7 g/(kg•d), respectively]. All mice were treated by intragastric administration for 4 weeks. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and anti-VASA staining were used to detect the amounts of follicles. The apoptosis of follicles was measured by anti-gamma HA histone family member X (γHAX) staining and TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) assay. The density of cohesin subunits, REC8 meiotic recombination protein (REC8), structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) 1β and SMC3 in oocytes were evaluated by immunofluorescent staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After administration of E and high-dose of HYKT, the total number of follicles as well as the number of primordial and primary follicles were significantly increased (P<0.05). Anti-γHAX staining and TUNEL assay demonstrated that high-dose of HYKT and E partly suppressed the apoptosis of follicles (P<0.05). Furthermore, it showed an increased trend in the levels of REC8 and SMC1β, after administration with E and HYKT, and no obvious change in the level of SMC3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HYKT could enhance the number of follicles, suppress apoptosis of oocytes and have a trend to elevate the meiotic-specific cohesin subunits (REC8 and SMC1β) in oocytes of aged mice, indicating a beneficial effect on the ovarian function in terms of the quantity and quality of follicles.</p>

A general description for Chinese medicine in treating premature ovarian failure / 中国结合医学杂志

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a kind of gynecological disease that causes amenorrhea, infertility, menopause and urogenital symptoms. Currently hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most popular choice for women with POF to get rid of menopausal syndrome. However, as the popularization of Chinese herbs made Chinese medicine (CM) shine new lights, physicians are able to treat POF with both meno-herbs and integrated therapy. HRT has its own indications and contraindications. For example, unexplained vaginal bleeding, acute liver damage, liver dysfunction, vascular embolization, and breast cancer are all contraindications of HRT, and CM is taken by more physicians as an adjuvant therapy. This review, including a range of common Chinese herbs and formulations according to the existing literature, provides a general description of CM treating POF from the aspects of mechanisms and clinical application. It also highlights acupuncture as a unique physiotherapy for POF. Although the validity of CM has been supported by the evidence of many preclinical trials, clinical trials and meta-analysis, the adverse events with CM therapy still exist and no guarantee has been made for its safety. This review concludes the updated information for CM treating POF contributing to further studies.

[Inhibitory effect of flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza uralensis on expressions of TGF-ß1 and Caspase-3 in thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the inhibitory effect of flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza uralensis on thioacetamide-induced chonic hepatic fibrosis in rats and the effect on the protein expressions of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and Caspase-3 in livers. METHOD: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into totally seven groups: the normal control group, the model group, LF groups s (400, 200, 100, 50 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)) and the silymarin positive control group (30 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)). The hepatic fibrosis model was induced in the rats through intraperitoneal injection with 3% thioacetamide (TAA) at a dose of 150 mg · kg(-1) body weight twice a week for 12 weeks. During the course, the control group and the model group were orally administered with saline (1 mL · kg(-1) · d(-1)). After the modeling and drug intervention, the pathologic changes and fibrosis in liver tissues were observed by HE staining and Masson's Trichrome staining. The serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and liver hydroxyproline (HYP) contents were assayed by biochemical process. The serum hyaluronic acid (HA) was assessed by radioimmunoassay. In addition, the protein expressions of liver TGF-ß1 and Caspase-3 were examined by immunohistochemical method. The mRNA expression of TGF-ß1 in hepatic tissues was examined by quantitative Real-time PCR analysis. RESULT: Compared with the model group, flavonoids can protect the integrity of the structure of liver tissues, significantly reduce the hepatic cell degeneration and necrosis and the proliferation of fibrous tissues, notably reduce the serum AST, ALT, ALP and HA and HYP in hepatic tissues and down-regulate the protein expressions of liver TGF-ß1 and Caspase-3 and the mRNA expression of TGF-ß1 in hepatic tissues. CONCLUSION: The licorice flavonoids can resist the thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. Its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the protein expressions of TGF-ß1 and Caspase-3.