Estrogen-like effects of Menoprogen on female ovariectomized rats.
- Author:
Xuanxuan LI
1
;
Hong MA
;
Ye LV
;
Masao HATTORI
;
Hwa Chung MI
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Animals; Aquaporin 2; metabolism; Aquaporin 5; metabolism; Disease Models, Animal; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; pharmacology; Estradiol; blood; Estrogen Receptor alpha; metabolism; Estrogens; pharmacology; Female; Ovariectomy; adverse effects; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Progesterone; metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; metabolism
- From: China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2012;37(11):1646-1650
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo study the estrogen-like action mechanism of Menoprogen on ovariectomized female rats.
METHODOvariectomized rat model (OVX) was established and estradiol (17beta-estradiol, E2) was used as positive control. The uterine coefficient and serum E2 level were determined after administration of Menoprogen for 2 weeks. The uterine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), water channel protein (aquaporin, AQP), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and the expression of proto-oncogenes (c-jun, c-fos) were observed by immunohistochemical method. Yeast two-hybrid assay was applied to detect the existence of components combining with ERalpha or ERbeta in Menoprogen.
RESULTBoth Menoprogen and E2 could significantly elevate the uterine coefficient of OVX rats, increase the level of serum E2 and up-regulate the expressions of VEGF, AQP2 as well as AQP5 in uterus. E2, not as E2 Menoprogen couldn't promote the expressions of ERalpha, PR, c-jun and c-fos in OVX rat uterus. And yeast two-hybrid assay showed no components combining with ERalpha or ERbeta in Menoprogen.
CONCLUSIONMenoprogen has estrogen-like effect, and can be used to treat menopause syndrome. The risk of estrogen-mediated endometrial cancer is low for this treatment because its mechanism is different from estrogen-like substances.
