Beneficial effects of Herba Epimedii on ovariectomized rats by down-regulating PGE2 and ADRβ-2R expression

Women have a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) than men at a similar age but the reverse is the case after menopause, indicating a possible protective effect of estrogen on cardiometabolic function. Although various hormonal therapies have been formulated to combat the CVD risks in postmenopausal state, the beneficial effects have not been consistent. Obesity with insulin resistance (IR) is closely linked to CVD risks while ovariectomized rodents have been shown to mimic a state of obesity and IR. We therefore hypothesized that low-dose spironolactone would ameliorate obesity and IR in estrogen-deprived rats by replenishing estrogen and suppressing elevated glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3). Ten-week-old female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: sham-operated (SHM), spironolactone (SPL; 0.25 mg/kg), and ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated with or without spironolactone daily for 8 weeks. Results showed that estrogen deprivation through ovariectomy caused increased body mass gain and visceral adiposity that are accompanied by increased HOMA-IR, HOMA-β, 1-hour postload glucose, glucose intolerance, platelet/lymphocyte ratio, plasma insulin, atherogenic dyslipidemia, uric acid, GSK-3, corticosterone, and aldosterone and depressed 17β-estradiol. However, treatment of OVX rats with spironolactone ameliorated all these effects. Taken together, the results demonstrate that treatment with low-dose spironolactone improves obesity and IR, which appears to involve replenishment of estrogen and suppression of GSK-3 along with circulating mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid. The findings imply a positive cardiometabolic effect of low-dose spironolactone usage in estrogen-deprived conditions.

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Vitex agnus-castusL. (Verbenaceae) Improves the Liver Lipid Metabolism and Redox State of Ovariectomized Rats

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2015/212378 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Franciele Neves Moreno ◽

Lilian Brites Campos-Shimada ◽

Silvio Claudio da Costa ◽

Rosângela Fernandes Garcia ◽

Alessandra Lourenço Cecchini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Liver Lipid ◽

Redox Status ◽

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Ovx Rats ◽

Agnus Castus ◽

General Improvement ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Fat Liver

Vitex agnus-castus(VAC) is a plant that has recently been used to treat the symptoms of menopause, by its actions on the central nervous system. However, little is known about its actions on disturbances in lipid metabolism and nonalcoholic fat liver disease (NAFLD), frequently associated with menopause. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats exhibit increased adiposity and NAFLD 13 weeks after ovary removal and were used as animal models of estrogen deficiency. The rats were treated with crude extract (CE) and a butanolic fraction of VAC (ButF) and displayed the beneficial effects of a reduction in the adiposity index and a complete reversion of NAFLD. NAFLD reversion was accompanied by a general improvement in the liver redox status. The activities of some antioxidant enzymes were restored and the mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production was significantly reduced in animals treated with CE and the ButF. It can be concluded that the CE and ButF fromVitex agnus-castuswere effective in preventing NAFLD and oxidative stress, which are frequent causes of abnormal liver functions in the postmenopausal period.

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Effects of Combined Oral Conjugated Estrogens and Medroxyprogesterone Acetate on Brain Infarction Size after Experimental Stroke in Rat

Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism ◽

10.1038/sj.jcbfm.9600052 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 421-426 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Marguerite T Littleton-Kearney ◽

Judy A Klaus ◽

Patricia D Hurn

Keyword(s):

Brain Infarction ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Experimental Stroke ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Infarction Volume ◽

Conjugated Equine Estrogens ◽

Subcortical Regions ◽

Equine Estrogens

The reason that estrogen is strongly protective in various estrogen-deficient animal models while seemingly detrimental in postmenopausal women remains unclear. It hypothesized that prolonged oral medroxyprogesterone (MPA) plus oral conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) diminishes estrogen ability to reduce stroke damage in the rodent stroke model. To test the hypothesis, we fed ovariectomized rats CEE or MPA, or a combination of CEE and MPA (CEP), before inducing 120 min of reversible focal stroke, using the intraluminal filament model. After 22 h reperfusion, the brains were harvested and infarction volumes were quantified. Treatment with CEE alone or with CEP reduced cortical infarction volume. However, CEP failed to provide ischemic protection in subcortical regions. It was concluded that CEE alone, or with CEP, is neuroprotective in the cortex, but interactive effects between the hormones may counteract CEE beneficial effects in subcortical brain regions.

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Beneficial effects of Cirsium japonicum var. maackii on menopausal symptoms in ovariectomized rats

Food & Function ◽

10.1039/c7fo01258f ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 2480-2489 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jun Yeon Park ◽

Hwayoung Yun ◽

Jeyun Jo ◽

Ji Yun Baek ◽

Sang Cheon Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rat Model ◽

Menopausal Symptoms ◽

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Cirsium Japonicum

Cirsium japonicum var. maackii exerted beneficial effects in a rat model of menopause.

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High-impact exercise strengthens bone in osteopenic ovariectomized rats with the same outcome as Sham rats

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00781.2002 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 95 (3) ◽

pp. 1032-1037 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Akiko Honda ◽

Naota Sogo ◽

Seigo Nagasawa ◽

Takuya Shimizu ◽

Yoshihisa Umemura

Keyword(s):

Bone Mass ◽

Female Rats ◽

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Ovx Rats ◽

Jump Exercise ◽

Body Weights ◽

The Right

The effect of jump exercise on middle-aged osteopenic rats was investigated. Forty-two 9-mo-old female rats were either sham-operated (Sham) or ovariectomized (OVX). Three months after surgery, the rats were divided into the following groups: Sham sedentary, Sham exercised, OVX sedentary, and OVX exercised. Rats in the exercise groups jumped 10 times/day, 5 days/wk, for 8 wk, with a jumping height of 40 cm. Less than 1 min was required for the jump training. After the experiment, the right tibia and femur were dissected, and blood was obtained from each rat. OVX rats were observed to have increased body weights and decreased bone mass in their tibiae and femurs. Jump-exercised rats, on the other hand, had significantly increased tibial bone mass, strength, and cortical areas. The bone mass and strength of OVX exercised rats increased to approximately the same extent as Sham exercised rats, despite estrogen deficiency or osteopenia. Our data suggest that jump exercise has beneficial effects on lower limb bone mass, strength, bone mineral density, and morphometry in middle-aged osteopenic rats, as well as in Sham rats.

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Effect of Exercise and Zoledronic Acid on Lipid Profile and Bone Remodeling in Ovariectomized Rats

International Journal of Innovative Research in Medical Science ◽

10.23958/ijirms/vol03-i12/519 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (12) ◽

Author(s):

Ahmed Sayed Khashaba, M.B.B.CH. MD. PhD ◽

Fawaz Salem Al Batati ◽

Abdulrhman Al Saffan BDS, MSc

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Lipid Profile ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Female Rats ◽

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Free Access ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Prevention Of Osteoporosis ◽

Cardio Vascular ◽

Osteoporosis Fracture

Exercise (EXE) and amino-bisphosphonates (BP) are both considered as useful strategies in the prevention of post-menopausal bone loss. Exercise reduces lipid levels, and BP may induce increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). We hypothesized that combined effects of BP and exercise would produce a better improvement of lipid profile. (Dolléans, 2010) Non pharmacological prevention of osteoporosis fracture by physical activity and particularly regular exercises (EXE) characterized by impact or loading is currently recommended.The effect of regular exercise on the Lipid profile has been developed in a lot of studies It has been recently demonstrated that increasing steps walked may have beneficial effects on serum lipids and thus may decrease the cardio vascular disease risks. Conversely, physical activity, and more specifically mechanical stress, has been shown to induce an osteogenic effect mediated by osteocytes and osteoblasts. (Howe, 2011) Sixty 6-month old Wistar female rats were maintained under the standard environmental conditions of light and temperature, (12 h light: 12 h dark photoperiod, at 24 ±2 oC) with free access to water. They were divided into 3 groups according to methods of induction

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Elucidation of Underlying Mechanisms by Which Millettia macrophylla Benth Induces Its Estrogenic Activity

International Scholarly Research Notices ◽

10.1155/2014/763781 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Stéphane Zingue ◽

Chantal Beatrice Magne Nde ◽

Colin Clyne ◽

Dieudonné Njamen

Keyword(s):

Estrogenic Activity ◽

Receptor Expression ◽

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Human Embryonic Kidney Cells ◽

Ici 182,780 ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Estrogenic Effects ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Millettia macrophylla is used traditionally to treat menopause related symptoms. This plant was shown to exhibit estrogenic effects in vitro on human embryonic kidney cells and in vivo on ovariectomized rats. The present study aimed at elucidating underlying mechanisms by which M. macrophylla induced its estrogenic effects. To accomplish our goal, kidney Hek293T cells transiently transfected with estrogen alpha or beta receptor expression plasmids were cotreated with a pure antiestrogen ICI 182,780 and the dichloromethane or methanol soluble fractions of M. macrophylla. To follow up, we cotreated ovariectomized rats with both extracts and ICI 182,780 for 3 days in the classical uterotrophic assay. Animals were then sacrificed and the uterine wet weight, total protein levels in uteri, uterine, and vaginal epithelial heights, and mammary gland were assessed. In vitro, the results suggested that the induction of the estrogenic activity by M. macrophylla is due to the binding of its secondary metabolites to ERα and ERβ. In vivo, the cotreatment of extracts and ICI 182,780 significantly abrogated the biological responses induced by the extracts alone. Taken together, these results indicate that the active principles of M. macrophylla induce their beneficial effects on menopausal symptoms by activating the ERs.

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Er-Xian Decoction Exerts Estrogen-Like Osteoprotective EffectsIn VivoandIn Vitro

The American Journal of Chinese Medicine ◽

10.1142/s0192415x1450027x ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 42 (02) ◽

pp. 409-426 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Ka-Chun Wong ◽

Kin-Shing Lee ◽

Hon-Kit Luk ◽

Hoi-Ying Wan ◽

Chui-Kwan Ho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Distal Femur ◽

Sprague Dawley ◽

Micro Computed Tomography ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Proliferative Effect ◽

Bone Properties ◽

Ovx Rats ◽

Herba Epimedii ◽

Umr 106

Er-xian Decoction (EXD), containing Herba epimedii Maxim (HEP) and Curculigo orchioides Gaertn (XM) as principal drugs, is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula prescribed for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In the present study, the in vivo anti-osteoporosis effects of EXD, HEP and XM on four-month-old ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague–Dawley rats were investigated. Micro-computed tomography analysis showed that EXD could significantly improve the micro-architectural parameters (BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb.Th, and Tb.Sp) of trabecular bone in the distal femur and proximal tibia in OVX rats (p < 0.05). The biomechanical parameters of the distal femur in rats treated with EXD were also improved significantly (p < 0.05 vs. OVX group). The in vivo efficacy of EXD was found to be superior to HEP or XM alone in improving the bone properties of OVX rats. Treatment of rat osteoblastic-like UMR-106 cells with EXD, HEP, and XM significantly promoted the cell proliferation rate (p < 0.05) with the most promising effects observed in cells treated with EXD (p < 0.001). The proliferative effect in UMR-106 cells induced by EXD, HEP, and XM were abolished in the presence of the estrogen antagonist, ICI182780, suggesting that their effects were mediated by estrogen receptor (ER). Additionally, EXD could activate ER-α and ER-β mediated estrogen-response element (ERE)-dependent luciferase activity as well as phosphorylate ER-α at serine 118 in UMR-106 cells. Taken together, EXD offered better osteoprotective effects than its single principal herb, and the beneficial effects of EXD in preventing bone deteriorations are, at least partially, through the ER signaling pathway.

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Beneficial Effects of Total Phenylethanoid Glycoside Fraction Isolated from Cistanche deserticola on Bone Microstructure in Ovariectomized Rats

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2019/2370862 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lingling Yang ◽

Shuqin Ding ◽

Bo Zhang ◽

Jingjing Liu ◽

Yanhong Dong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Signaling Pathways ◽

Bone Microarchitecture ◽

Bone Microstructure ◽

Akt Signaling ◽

Hplc Method ◽

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Phenylethanoid Glycoside ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Ovx Rats

The present study was designed to estimate the antiosteoporotic activity of total phenylethanoid glycoside fraction isolated from C. deserticola (CDP) on rats induced by ovariectomy (OVX) as well as the related mechanisms. After 3 months of oral administration, the decreased bone mineral density, serum Ca, and P in OVX rats were recovered and the deteriorated trabecular bone microarchitecture was partly improved by CDP (60, 120, and 240 mg/kg) intervention, the activities of bone resorption markers were downregulated, and the bioactive of the bone formation index was upregulated; meanwhile, the content of MDA was declined, and GSH was increased by CDP treatment. Compositionally, 8 phenylethanoid glycoside compounds were identified in CDP, with the total contents quantified as 50.3% by using the HPLC method. Mechanistically, CDP declined the levels of TRAF6, RANKL, and RANK, thus suppressing RANKL/RANK/TRAF6-induced activation of downstream NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways and ultimately preventing activities of the key osteoclastogenic proteins of NFAT2 and c-Fos. All of the above data implied that CDP exhibited beneficial effects on bone microstructure in ovariectomized rats, and these effects may be related to the NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways which were triggered by the binding of RANKL, RANK, and TRAF6.

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