Abstract
Objective. To explore the effects of puerarin to treat endometriosis (EMT) model rats and the possible regulatory mechanisms. Methods. EMT model rats were surgically induced by autotransplantion of endometrial tissues. The appropriate dosage of puerarin to treat EMT model rats was determined by observing the pathologic morphology of ectopic endometrial tissues and by detecting the levels of estradiol (E2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) of both serum and ectopic endometrial tissues. The related genes and proteins of ectopic endometrial tissues were analyzed by Real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to explore the possible mechanisms. Results. Puerarin could reduce the levels of E2 and PGE2 and prevent the growth of ectopic endometrium tissues by inhibiting the expression of aromatase cytochrome P450 (p450arom) and cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2); puerarin could adjust the anabolism of E2 by upregulating the expression of 17β-hydroxysteroid-2 (17β-hsd-2) and downregulating the expression of 17β-hydroxysteroid-1 (17β-hsd-1) of the ectopic endometrium tissues; puerarin could increase the expression of ERβ and improve the inflammatory microenvironment of EMT model rats. Conclusions. Our data suggest that puerarin has a therapeutic effect on EMT model rats and could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of EMT in clinic.
Highlights
Endometriosis (EMT) causes chronic pelvic pain and infertility [1], affects 5%–10% of women in their reproductive ages [2, 3], and is an estrogen-dependent benign disease characterized by extrauterine implantation and ectopic growth of endometrium [4]
This study was to investigate the effects of puerarin to treat the EMT model rats and the possible regulatory mechanisms in vivo, to provide scientific basis for clinical treatment of EMT patients
According to the classification of vaginal exfoliated cells and the predominant cell type in vaginal smears obtained daily (10 consecutive days) and verified by microscopic analysis, the rats with regular estrous cyclicity were selected for modeling
Summary
Endometriosis (EMT) causes chronic pelvic pain and infertility [1], affects 5%–10% of women in their reproductive ages [2, 3], and is an estrogen-dependent benign disease characterized by extrauterine implantation and ectopic growth of endometrium [4]. It is necessary to explore novel therapeutic strategies and drugs for reversing the clinical symptoms of EMT patients and improving their quality of life. In our early clinical practice to treat endometriosis (EMT), a better therapeutic effect was achieved if the formula of traditional Chinese medicine included Radix puerariae [8, 9]. Puerarin, extracted from Radix puerariae, is widely known as a natural conditioner of selective estrogen receptors (ERs) [10] and has an antiestrogenic effect for its weak estrogenic action by binding to ERs as we have studied in vitro before. This study was to investigate the effects of puerarin to treat the EMT model rats and the possible regulatory mechanisms in vivo, to provide scientific basis for clinical treatment of EMT patients
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