RESUMO
Background: Precocious puberty (PP) involves early activation of the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) generator. The RFamide-related peptide/G protein-coupled receptor 147 (RFRP3/GPR147) signaling pathway is vital in inhibiting GnRH and delaying puberty onset. The nourishing Yin-removing fire (NYRF) herbal mixture has shown promising results in treating PP. Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of the NYRF herbal mixture on the RFRP3/GPR147 signaling pathway in the hypothalamus and its potential in alleviating PP in female rats. Materials and Methods: In a controlled experiment, 24 female Sprague-Dawley rats (11.20 ± 0.69 gr, postnatal day [PD5]) were divided into normal, model, normal saline, and NYRF groups (n = 6/each). PP was induced in the model, normal saline, and NYRF groups by subcutaneous injection of danazol at PD5. The NYRF herbal mixture or normal saline was administered from PD15. Serum sex hormone levels and hypothalamic samples were collected for mRNA and protein expression at PD30. Results: In the model group, hypothalamic GnRH and kisspeptin levels increased, while RFRP3 and GPR147 levels decreased, luteinizing hormone levels elevated, reproductive organ coefficients increased, and the vagina opened earlier compared to the normal group. Conversely, the NYRF group exhibited lower GnRH and kisspeptin levels but higher RFRP3 levels in the hypothalamus. Serum luteinizing hormone levels were reduced, reproductive organ coefficients were reduced, and the vaginal opening was delayed compared to the model and normal saline groups. Conclusion: The NYRF herbal mixture delayed sexual development in rats with PP by hypothalamic upregulating RFRP3 and downregulating GnRH and kisspeptin.
RESUMO
Objective To study the effect of Nourishing-Yin Removing-Fire and Dissipating-Stagnation Decoction on intrathyroid vascularity( ITV) and serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) levels in patients with new diagnoses of Graves disease(GD).Methods 100 patients with new diagnoses of GD were divided into two groups:Group A were treated with Nourishing-Yin Removing-Fire and Dissipating-Stagnation Decoction combined with methimazole(MT) and Group B were treated with MT alone.Thyroid volumes, superior thyroid artery peak systolic velocity(STA-PSV), thyroid vascularity index(TVI) and serum VEGF levels in patients were also observed in Group A and B before and after treatment.The correlation between thyroid volumes and serum VEGF levels in patients was analyzed.Results The parameters of GD were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01) .There were positive correlation between thyroid volumes and thyroid vascularity index(TVI) or serum VEGF levels in patients(r=0.57, P<0.05;r=0.59,P<0.05).The parameters in Group A and Group B decreased after treatment(P<0.01).STA-PSV, TVI and serum VEGF levels decreased significantly in Group A than those in in Group B after treatment(all P<0.05).Conclusion Nourishing-Yin Removing-Fire and Dissipating-Stagnation Decoction can improve goiters more effectively than traditional western medicine alone by decreasing serum VEGF levels of patients with GD.