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 groups:control,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.