Perimenopause Amelioration of a TCM Recipe Composed of Radix Astragali, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, and Folium Epimedii: An In Vivo Study on Natural Aging Rat Model

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been extensively applied as preferable herbal remedy for menopausal symptoms. In the present work, the potential of a TCM recipe named RRF, composed of Radix Astragali, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, and Folium Epimedii, was investigated on a natural aging rat model. After administration of RRF (141, 282, and 564 mg/kg/d), the circulated estradiol (E2) level increased accompanied by a reduction of serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). But no significant impact on serum lutenizing hormone (LH) level was observed. As a result of the E2-FSH-LH adjustment, the histomorphology degenerations of ovary, uterus, and vagina of the 11.5-month female rats were alleviated. And lumbar vertebrae trabecular microstructure was also restored under RRF exposure by means of increasing the trabecular area and area rate. Moreover, levels of hypothalamic dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) rallied significantly after RRF treatment. Results from our studies suggest that RRF possesses a positive regulation on the estrogen imbalance and neurotransmitter disorder, thereby restoring reproductive organ degeneration and skeleton deterioration. The above-mentioned benefits of RRF on the menopause syndromes recommend RRF as a potential candidate for the treatment of perimenopausal syndrome.

Figure 1

Organ indexes of ovary (a), uterus (b), and vagina (c) in control group (blank bars), CEE group (0.1 mg/kg/d, dark-grey bars), and RRF groups (141, 282, and 564 mg/kg/d, solid-dark bars). Vertical bars represent standard errors of the means, where n = 8. Asterisks designate significant differences: *P < 0.05 versus control group and **P < 0.01 versus control group.

Figure 2

Typical photomicrographs (×100) of the ovary of natural aging rats in control group (a), CEE group (b), and RRF groups ((c), (d), and (e) for 141, 282, and 564 mg/kg/d, resp.).

Figure 3

Typical photomicrographs (×100) of the uterus of natural aging rats in control group (a), CEE group (b), and RRF groups ((c), (d), and (e) for 141, 282, and 564 mg/kg/d, resp.).

Figure 4

Typical photomicrographs (×100) of the vagina of natural aging rats in control group (a), CEE group (b), and RRF groups ((c), (d), and (e) for 141, 282, and 564 mg/kg/d, resp.).

Figure 5

Serum levels of E₂ (a), FSH (b), and LH (c) in control group (blank bars), CEE group (0.1 mg/kg/d, dark-grey bars), and RRF groups (141, 282, and 564 mg/kg/d, solid-dark bars). Vertical bars represent standard errors of the means, where n = 8. Asterisks designate significant differences: *P < 0.05 versus control group and **P < 0.01 versus control group.

Figure 6

Hypothalamus levels of DA (a), NE (b), 5-HT (c), 5-HIAA (d), and β-EP (e) in control group (blank bars), CEE group (0.1 mg/kg/d, dark-grey bars), and RRF groups (141, 282, and 564 mg/kg/d, solid-dark bars). Vertical bars represent standard errors of the means, where n = 8. Asterisks designate significant differences: *P < 0.05 versus control group and **P < 0.01 versus control group.

Figure 7

Histoarchitecture of lumbar vertebra trabeculae. The trabecular number (a), area (b), and area ratio (c) in control group (blank bars), CEE group (0.1 mg/kg/d, dark-grey bars), and RRF groups (141, 282, and 564 mg/kg/d, solid-dark bars). Vertical bars represent standard errors of the means, where n = 8. Asterisks designate significant differences: *P < 0.05 versus control group and **P < 0.01 versus control group.