ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of the Yifuning soft gelatin capsules(YFN)on estrogen receptor (ER) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in ovariectomized rats. METHOD: Fifty female mature sprague-dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal control; model control; diethylstilbestrol tablets (DT); YFN (high dose and low dose). After 4 weeks' treatment, the serum E2 levels were detected by radioimmunoassay. The estrogen receptor (ER) levels of uterus and artery were detected with method of radioligand binding assay of receptor (RBAR). The uterus pathologic changes were investigated with light microscope. NO and NOS levels of the artery and the uterus index were detected too. RESULT: YFN can obviously improve serum E2, increase index and ER of uterus (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and ameliorate the uterus' pathologic changes in OVX rats. It also can increase the artery' ER, NO and NOS levels. CONCLUSION: YFN can cure the climacteric syndrome and prevent the cardiovascular disease after post-menopause.
Subject(s)
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology , Materia Medica/pharmacology , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism , Uterus/pathology , Animals , Aorta/metabolism , Capsules , Curcuma/chemistry , Drug Combinations , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification , Estradiol/blood , Female , Materia Medica/administration & dosage , Materia Medica/isolation & purification , Nitric Oxide Synthase/metabolism , Ovariectomy , Oviducts/chemistry , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Rana temporaria , Random Allocation , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Uterus/metabolismABSTRACT
Endogenous and exogenous opioids can influence and modulate neuronal and glial cell function via an opioid receptor mediated mechanism, leading to either protection or damage of the brain. Opiates such as morphine have been postulated to promote the progression of HIV-1 and the development of secondary opportunistic infections. Kappa opioid receptor ligands, on the other hand, may play a neuroprotective role. More studies are needed to delineate how opioids exert their effects on glial cells as well as neurons with the goal of developing new therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative disease.