Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Bushen Shugan Recipe in regulating the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis in a rat model of stress-induced anorexia

Abstract

To investigate the effects of Bushen Shugan Recipe (BSSGR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in regulating the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis (HPOA) in a rat model of stress-induced anorexia. Anorexia was induced in rats by the methods of separation, diet restriction and constraint. Rats were divided into 4 groups randomly: control group, untreated group, sham-operated group and BSSGR group. After the experiments, body weights and oestrous cycles of the 4 groups were compared. The levels of serum estradiol (E(2)), hypophysis luteotrophic hormone (LH), hypophysis follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and hypothalamus β-endorphin (β-EP) were detected by radioimmunoassay. The level of serum corticosterone (CORT) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Body weight of BSSGR group was significantly increased in comparison with sham-operated group(P<0.01); the oestrous cycle disordering rate was higher than those of the untreated group and sham-operated group; hypophysis LH and serum E(2) were obviously increased in comparison with untreated group (P<0.05); hypothalamus β-EP was obviously decreased in comparison with sham-operated group (P<0.05); serum CORT was obviously decreased in comparison with untreated group (P<0.05), and significantly decreased in comparison with sham-operated group (P<0.01). BSSGR increased hypophysis LH and serum E(2), and decreased serum CORT and hypothalamus β-EP in rats with stress-induced anorexia.