Materials and Methods: Thirty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: Sham-operated (SHAM), OVX control, OVX and given Premarin at 64.5 µg/kg (OVX+E2), OVX and given VCO at 4.29 ml/kg (OVX+V), OVX and given TRF at 30 mg/kg (OVX+T), and OVX and given a combination of VCO at 4.29 ml/kg and TRF at 30 mg/kg (OVX+VT). Following 24 weeks of treatments, blood and femora samples were taken for analyses.
Results: There were no significant differences in serum osteocalcin levels between the groups (p>0.05), while serum C-terminal telopeptide of Type I collagen levels of the OVX+VT group were significantly lower than the other groups (p<0.05). The dynamic bone histomorphometry analysis of the femur showed that the double-labeled surface/bone surface (dLS/BS), mineral apposition rate, and bone formation rate/BS of the OVX+E2, OVX+T, and OVX+VT groups were significantly higher than the rest of the groups (p<0.05).
Conclusion: A combination of VCO and TRF has the potential as a therapeutic agent to restore bone loss induced by ovariectomy and high-fat diet.
METHODS: Uteri from ovariectomized, female Sprague-Dawley rats receiving seven days estradiol, progesterone or genistein (25, 50 and 100mg/kg/day) were harvested and levels of AQP-1, 2, 5 and 7 proteins and mRNAs were determined by Western blotting and Real-time PCR (qPCR) respectively. Distribution of these proteins in uterus was observed by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: Genistein caused a dose-dependent increase in uterine AQP-1, 2, 5 and 7 protein and mRNA expression, however at the levels lower than following estradiol or progesterone stimulations. Effects of genistein were antagonized by estradiol receptor blocker, ICI 182780. Estradiol caused the highest AQP-2 protein and mRNA expression while progesterone caused the highest AQP-1, 5 and 7 protein and mRNA expression in uterus. AQP-1, 2, 5 and 7 protein were found to be distributed in the myometrium as well as in uterine luminal and glandular epithelia and endometrial blood vessels. In conclusion, the observed effects of estradiol, progesterone and genistein on uterine AQP-1, 2, 5 and 7 expression could help to explain the differences in the amount of fluid accumulated in the uterus under these different conditions.
METHODS: Ovariectomized, diabetic female rats were given M. pumilum leave aqueous extract (MPLA) (50 and 100 mg/kg/day), estrogen, glibenclamide and estrogen plus glibenclamide for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the treatment, fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin, Ca2+, PO43- and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) levels were measured. Rats were sacrificed and femur bones were harvested for determination of expression level and distribution of RANK, RANKL, OPG and oxidative stress and inflammatory proteins by molecular biological techniques.
RESULTS: 100 mg/kg/day MPLA treatment decreased the FBG and BALP levels but increased the serum insulin, Ca2+ and PO43- levels in estrogen deficient, diabetic rats. Expression and distribution of RANKL, NF-κB p65, IKKβ, IL-6, IL-1β and Keap-1 decreased however expression and distribution of RANK, OPG, BMP-2, Type-1 collagen, Runx2, TRAF6, Nrf2, NQO-1, HO-1, SOD and CAT increased in the bone of estrogen deficient, diabetic rats which received 100 mg/kg/day MPLA with greater effects than estrogen-only, glibenclamide-only and estrogen plus glibenclamide treatments.
CONCLUSION: MPLA helps to overcome the adverse effect of estrogen deficiency and DM on the bone and thus this herb could potentially be used for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with diabetes.
HYPOTHESIS: Consumption of Marantodes pumilum leaves helps to ameliorate increased in vaginal fluid pH in sex-steroid deficient condition.
PURPOSE: To investigate changes in vaginal fluid pH and expression of proteins that participate in pH changes i.e vacoular (V)-ATPases and carbonic anhydrases (CA) in the vagina following M. pumilum leaves consumption.
METHODS: Ovariectomized adult female rats were treated orally with M. pumilum leaves extract (MPE) at 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg.b.w and estradiol at 0.2 µg/kg/b.w for 28 days. At the end of the treatment, vaginal fluid pH was measured in anesthetised rats by using micropH probe. Following sacrificed, levels of V-ATPase and CA proteins and mRNAs in the vagina were identified by Western blotting and real-time PCR, respectively. Protein distribution was visualized by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: Administration of MPE causes the pH of vaginal fluid to decrease and expression and distribution of vaginal V-ATPase A & B and CA II, III, IX, XII and XIII to increase.
CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in vaginal fluid pH following MPE treatment suggested that this herb has potential to be used to ameliorate vaginal fluid pH changes in sex-steroid deficient condition.