The herbal medicine Tokishakuyakusan increases fetal blood glucose concentrations and growth hormone levels and improves intrauterine growth retardation induced by N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester.
J Pharmacol Sci
; 104(4): 319-28, 2007 Aug.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17666866
ABSTRACT
N(omega)-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) induces a pre-eclampsia-like syndrome in pregnant rats. We have previously reported the anti-hypertensive effects of several Japanese traditional (Kampo) medicines in this model, and one of these, Tokishakuyakusan (TS), also improved intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). In the present study, we characterized the effect of TS on IUGR. TS administration reversed the decrease in fetal body weight and fetal blood glucose concentration induced by the infusion of L-NAME. Growth hormone (GH) levels in the fetal blood, which were decreased by L-NAME infusion, were also significantly elevated by TS; however, levels of GH releasing hormone (GHRH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were unchanged and only slightly changed, respectively. Treatment with L-NAME with or without TS had no apparent effect on GH, GHRH, and IGF-I levels of dams. In an immunocytochemical study, the number of GH-positive cells in the fetal pituitary gland was significantly increased in TS-treated rats. These data suggest that enhanced proliferation of somatotrope cells of the pituitary gland and the resultant increase in GH secretion in the fetus may be involved in the improvement of IUGR by TS.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Medicinas Tradicionais:
Medicinas_tradicionales_de_asia
/
Medicina_china
Métodos Terapêuticos e Terapias MTCI:
Terapias_biologicas
Assunto principal:
Pré-Eclâmpsia
/
Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas
/
Retardo do Crescimento Fetal
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Pharmacol Sci
Ano de publicação:
2007
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Japão