Effect of Liuwei Dihuang decoction on the function of hypothalamus–pituitary–ovary axis in senescence-accelerated mouse

Abstract

Liuwei Dihuang decoction (LW) is a classical traditional Chinese medicinal prescription used clinically in the treatment of the diseases manifesting “Kidney-Yin” deficiency syndrome such as cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and the diseases related to the disorder of endocrine function including climacteric syndrome, sexual inadequacy, sterility and hyperplasia of prostate, etc., in traditional Chinese medicine in China. In this study, age-related functional change of hypothalamus–pituitary–ovary (HPO) axis and the effect of LW were studied in senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM). The results showed that the oestrus cycle and diestrus of SAM-prone/8 (SAMP8) were significantly prolonged from 5 months old. The level of serum estrogen was significantly higher in 3-month-old SAMP8 than that in age-matched SAMR1, and markedly declined from 5 months old and kept no significant change from 5 to 11 months old. The pituitary LH was markedly raised from 7 months old. Oral administration of LW improved the shortened estrus, increased the ovary weigh and significantly reduced the pituitary content of LH in 9-month-old SAMP8. These results suggested that the imbalance of HPO axis occurs at the early age in SAMP8 and LW modulates or improves the imbalance of HPO axis in SAMP8 during aging process.