Experimental Study on Effect of Tonifying Kidney Herbs on Pituitary, Ovary, and Adrenal Gland in Androgen Sterilized Rats

Objective: To observe the effect of tonifying Kidney herbs (TKH) on pituitary gland, ovary, and adrenal gland of androgen sterilized rats (ASR).Methods: ASR model was established by injecting testosterone propionate subcutaneously to Sprague-Dawley (SD) female rats of 9 days age. Morphological and endocrinological change of pituitary gland, ovary and adrenal gland in rats of 100–107 days old before and after feeding TKH extract were observed by light and electron microscope, cell cultures, immunohistochemical studies, and radioimmunoassay.Results: In the ASR groups, there were intracytoplasmic lipid drops, crinophagy, vacuole, and autophagy in pituitary gland, anovulation in ovary, and hyperplasia of reticular zone in adrenal gland. At the same time, serum follicular stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone decreased (P < 0.05-0.005) and serum testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone levels increased significantly (P < 0.01-0.001). These morphologiacl and endocrinological changes were all returned to normal range after the TKH treatment.

New Insights into the Molecular Basis of Kidney Governing Bone Theory

Kidney governing bone theory plays an important role in treating bone metabolic disease such as osteoporosis, and many tonifying kidney prescriptions/herbs are widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM). However, the exact biological basis of kidney governing bone theory in the context of new advances in biology is still not fully established. In this paper, the content of kidney governing bone theory in biology has been fully demonstrated from different aspects. We first propose that bone and kidney mutually affect each other in pathology and physiology, particularly through homeostasis of calcium, phosphorus and fibroblast growth factor-23(FGF-23). Next, we identify that tonifying kidney prescriptions/herbs exert bone protective effects, thus treating osteoporosis by regulating bone formation and bone resorption.Furthermore, the exact molecular mechanisms of tonifying kidney prescriptions, herbs and their effective components in treating osteoporosis have been systematically reviewed. Finally, we come into the conclusion that kidney regulating bone mineral homeostasis, bone protective effects of tonifying kidney herbs and regulatory effects on bone homeostasis are all the manifestations of kidney governing bone theory.Therefore, the new insights into kidney governing bone theory in biology will promote the development of clinical practices, and drugs discovery in treating osteoporosis.