Regulative effects of Chinese herbs for nourishing yin and removing fire on gene expressions of estrogen receptor alpha, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, epithelial growth factor receptor and protein synthesis in epiphyseal growth plate of female pubertal rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Chinese herbs for nourishing yin and removing fire (NYRF) on gene expressions of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha), insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the epiphyseal growth plate of the female pubertal rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The rats were randomly divided into the control group and the intervened group. Immunohistochemistry and realtime-PCR methods were used to measure the gene expression of ER alpha, IGF-1R and EGFR and their protein synthesis in epiphyseal growth plate.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After being intervened with NYRF, the gene expressions of ER alpha and IGF-1R were down-regulated and their protein synthesis markedly reduced, while those of EGFR were unchanged.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NYRF can modulate the development and maturation of bone by regulating the expressions of ER alpha and IGF-1R in the epiphyseal growth plate.</p>