The Effects of Lei Gong Teng on Reproductive Hormones

The serum reproductive hormone levels were examined with radioimmunoassay in women of child-bearing age before and after treatment with the prescriptions containing Lei Gong Teng (雷公藤Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii). The results showed that Lei Gong Teng could induce amenorrhea, but it was reversible.

The Therapeutic Effects of Sheng Jing Zhong Zi Tang in Treating Male Infertility

Eight-seven cases of male infertility due to spermatopathy were treated with Sheng Jing Zhong Zi Tang (SJZZT生精种子汤) for 1-3 courses. The total effective rate was 95.40% (83/87). 56.32% (49/87) of their spouses got pregnant and the semen quality was markedly improved (P<0.01). The results showed that the decoction could dual-directionally regulate the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolan B luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), and cortisol (C).

Effect of epidermal growth factor on follicle-stimulating hormone-induced proliferation of granulosa cells from chicken prehierarchical follicles

The development of ovarian follicular cells is controlled by multiple circulating and local hormones and factors,including follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and epidermal growth factor(EGF).In this study,the stage-specific effect of EGF on FSH-induced proliferation of granulosa cells was evaluated in the ovarian follicles of egg-laying chickens.Results showed that EGF and its receptor(EGFR) mRNAs displayed a high expression in granulosa cells from the prehierarchical follicles,including the large white follicle(LWF) and small yellow follicle(SYF),and thereafter the expression decreased markedly to the stage of the largest preovulatory follicle.SYF represents a turning point of EGF/EGFR mRNA expression during follicle selection.Subsequently the granulosa cells from SYF were cultured to reveal the mediation of EGF in FSH action.Cell proliferation was remarkably increased by treatment with either EGF or FSH(0.1-100 ng/ml).This result was confirmed by elevated proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) expression and decreased cell apoptosis.Furthermore,EGF-induced cell proliferation was accompanied by increased mRNA expressions of EGFR,FSH receptor,and the cell cycle-regulating genes(cyclins D1 and E1,cyclin-dependent kinases 2 and 6) as well as decreased expression of luteinizing hormone receptor mRNA.However,the EGF or FSH-elicited effect was reversed by simultaneous treatment with an EGFR inhibitor AG1478.In conclusion,EGF and EGFR expressions manifested stage-specific changes during follicular development and EGF mediated FSH-induced cell proliferation and retarded cell differentiation in the prehierarchical follicles.These expressions thus stimulated follicular growth before selection in the egg-laying chicken.

Efficacy of Bushenjianpi prescription on autoimmune premature ovarian failure in mice

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Bushenjianpi prescription(BSJPP), a formula from Traditional Chinese Medicine, on a mouse model of autoimmune premature ovarian failure(POF) induced by mouse zona pellucida(ZP3) and to investigate the mechanisms underlying the action.METHODS: After randomization, POF was induced in the model mice by immunization with ZP3. One week later, mice received low(8.1 mg/kg), moderate(16.2 mg/kg) and high(32.4 mg/kg) doses of BSJPP by gastrogavage once daily for 90 days. Premarin(0.03 mg/kg) served as the positive group. Serum samples were collected 1 week after the last dose and stored at-20 ℃ for analysis. After cervical dislocation, the uterus and ovaries were collected aseptically for evaluation by histological assessment, scanning electron microscopy, immunohistochemical staining, and Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses.RESULTS: Serum E2 levels in POF model mice were decreased, whereas follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH) levels were dramatically increased. Serum levels of E2,LH and FSH were reduced in POF model mice treated with BSJPP(moderate and high doses) and premarin. Anti-bone morphogenetic protein 15(BMP-15) and connexin 43(Cx43) were repressed in autoimmune POF model mice, whereas high expression was observed in control mice and those treated with BSJPP(moderate and high doses)and premarin.CONCLUSION: BSJPP is effective in treating ZP3-induced POF in mice and the increase in the expression of BMP-15 and Cx43 may be implicated in the mechanism underpinning the action.

Follicle-stimulating hormone promotes proliferation of cultured chicken ovarian germ cells through protein kinases A and C activation

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on embryonic chicken ovarian germ cell proliferation and its possible involvements of protein kinases A (PKA) and C (PKC) pathways.Ovarian cells were treated with FSH alone or in the presence of forskolin (FRSK),PKA inhibitor (H89),PKC activator (PMA) or inhibitor (H7).The germ cell number was counted from micropictures.The immunocytochemistry of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was applied to identify the proliferating cells.The germ cell labeling index (LI) was determined for cell proliferation.The FSH treatment increased the germ cell number,and this stimulating effect was enhanced by FRSK or PMA,but inhibited by H89 or H7 in a dose-dependent manner.Moreover,the PCNA-LI showed parallel changes with germ cell numbers.This study suggests that FSH may stimulate proliferation of cultured chicken ovarian germ cells by activation of both the PKA and PKC signaling pathways.