The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Yin Zhi Huang Soup in an Experimental Autoimmune Prostatitis Rat Model

Longsheng Deng,Taikun Lu,Guanyu Jin,Jinchun Chen,Changming Jiang,Qiang Zou,Weikun Zhu,Qizhong Zheng,Junying Chen,Xikui Zhang

doi:10.1155/2017/7312938

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of the Chinese herbal medicine Yin Zhi Huang soup (YZS) in an experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) rat model. In total, 48 rats were randomly divided into the following four groups (n = 12/group): saline group, pathological model group, Qianlietai group, and YZS group. We determined the average wet weight of the prostate tissue, the ratio of the wet weight of the prostate tissue to body weight, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in the blood serum, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the rats' prostate tissues, and the pathological changes in the prostate tissue using light microscopy. YZS reduced the rats' prostate wet weight, the ratio of the prostate wet weight to body weight, and TNF-α levels in the blood serum and inhibited the expression of iNOS in the rats' prostate tissues (P < 0.05). Following YZS treatment, the pathological changes in the rats' prostates were improved compared with those in the model group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, YZS treatment reduced inflammatory changes in the prostate tissue. It also significantly suppressed proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, and chemokines, such as iNOS, in the rat model of EAP.

Highlights

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a male urogenital disease commonly observed in urological practice
The prostate wet weight and the ratio of the prostate wet weight to the body weight clearly increased. These values decreased in the Qianlietai group and the Yin Zhi Huang soup (YZS) group compared with the pathological model group, but a more obvious decrease was observed in the YZS group
The results of the present study demonstrated that treatment with YZS decreased the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, and chemokines, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in a rat model of experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP)

Summary

Introduction

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a male urogenital disease commonly observed in urological practice. Crohn’s disease, and myocardial infarction, CP/CPPS has unfavourable effects on physiological and psychological status and the quality of life of patients [2]. Medications (antimicrobials, antiinflammatories, and alpha-blockers), pelvic floor training, phytotherapy, thermal therapies, and biofeedback have been shown to relieve CP/CPPS pain [3, 4]. Most patients continue to feel uncomfortable, and CP/CPPS is a chronic disease that is difficult to treat. Inflammation has been extensively shown to play a significant role in CP/CPPS. Elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, and chemokines, such as iNOS, have been associated with CP/CPPS symptoms and diagnosis severity in patients [5, 6]

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