Study on the antifungal and mucosal repair effects of chitosan gynecological soft gel on vulvovaginal candidiasis in rats / 中国实用妇科与产科杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To establish the rat model of vulvovaginal candidiasis(VVC)and evaluate the antifungal and mucosal repair effects of water-soluble chitosan gynecological soft gel(Funingkang)on VVC.METHODS: From September 2018 to December 2018,animal experiments were conducted in Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Capital Medical University.Thirty female Sprague Dawley(SD)rats were randomized into five treatment groupscontrol,infection model,Funingkang,nystatin and estrogen groups.The drug was administered continuously for 7 days according to the grouping.Vaginal secretions were collected after treatment and the clearance rate of pathogens was calculated.Vaginal specimens were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy.RESULTS: The negative conversion rate of pathogen in Funingkang group was 100%(6/6)one day and four days after drug withdrawal.After treatment with Funingkang,the mean thickness of vaginal mucosa was significantly increased compared with that of infected rats[(114.15±12.65)μm vs.(74.47± 28.90)μm,P=0.001],and the morphology of vaginal epithelium returned to normal.In addition,the expression of interleukin(IL)-4 and interferon(IFN)-γ kept unchanged,but IL-17(P=0.035)and non B-IgG(P=0.003)were up-regulated after treatment with Funingkang.CONCLUSION: Funingkang can effectively eliminate the pathogen of Candida albicans,repair vaginal mucosa,and regulate the innate immune response.