The effect of Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17 on postmenopausal symptoms in ovariectomized rats

Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, known as kudzu, is one of the most popular traditional medicines in Asian countries. It has been widely used as a natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy for treating postmenopausal symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the estrogenic effect of P. lobata extract (PE) against postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. OVX rats were treated with PE (25–1600 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Biochemical parameters, estradiol, and bone turnover markers (e.g., osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptide fragment of type I collagen, deoxypyridinoline, and pyridinoline) were measured in plasma samples. In addition, estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α) protein expression and morphology of uterine were evaluated. Long-term treatment with PE did not cause liver damage in OVX rats. PE supplementation reduced body weight gain in obese rats with high lipid accumulation induced by ovariectomy. Furthermore, PE exhibited a protective effect against insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and hepatic lipid peroxidation. PE treatment increased uterine weight and thickness of the uterine layers in cases of uterus atrophy due to removal of ovaries. The levels of bone turnover markers, which were significantly increased in OVX rats, were decreased by PE treatment. Western blotting analysis showed that ER-α protein expression was upregulated in PE-treated rats compared with OVX rats. These results suggest that PE could be a promising alternative functional food for improving menopausal symptoms.

Download Full-text

Estradiol Release Kinetics Determine Tissue Response in Ovariectomized Rats

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2011-1801 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 153 (4) ◽

pp. 1725-1733 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Christiane Otto ◽

Ingrid Kantner ◽

Reinhard Nubbemeyer ◽

Jenny Schkoldow ◽

Iris Fuchs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mammary Gland ◽

Bone Loss ◽

Release Kinetics ◽

Physiological Saline ◽

Mammary Epithelial ◽

Tissue Response ◽

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Continuous Release ◽

Postmenopausal Symptoms ◽

Ovx Rats

Estrogen replacement is an effective therapy of postmenopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, bone loss, and vaginal dryness. Undesired estrogen effects are the stimulation of uterine and mammary gland epithelial cell proliferation as well as hepatic estrogenicity. In this study, we examined the influence of different estradiol release kinetics on tissue responsivity in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Pulsed release kinetics was achieved by ip or sc administration of estradiol dissolved in physiological saline containing 10% ethanol (EtOH/NaCl) whereas continuous release kinetics was achieved by sc injection of estradiol dissolved in benzylbenzoate/ricinus oil (1+4, vol/vol). Initial 3-d experiments in OVX rats showed that pulsed ip estradiol administration had profoundly reduced stimulatory effects on the uterus and the liver compared with continuous release kinetics. On the other hand, both administration forms prevented severe vaginal atrophy. Based on these results, we compared the effects of pulsed (sc in EtOH/NaCl) vs. continuous (sc in benzylbenzoate/ricinus oil) estradiol release kinetics on bone, uterus, mammary gland, and liver in a 4-month study in OVX rats. Ovariectomy-induced bone loss was prevented by both administration regimes. However, pulsed estradiol resulted in lower uterine weight, reduced induction of hepatic gene expression, and reduced mammary epithelial hyperplasia relative to continuous estradiol exposure. We conclude that organ responsivity is influenced by different hormone release kinetics, a fact that might be exploited to reduce undesired estradiol effects in postmenopausal women.

Download Full-text

Estrogen improves response accuracy and attenuates the disruptive effects of Δ⁹-THC in ovariectomized rats responding under a multiple schedule of repeated acquisition and performance.

Behavioral Neuroscience ◽

10.1037/0735-7044.116.6.989 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 116 (6) ◽

pp. 989-998 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Jill M. Daniel ◽

Peter J. Winsauer ◽

Ian N. Brauner ◽

Joseph M. Moerschbaecher

Keyword(s):

Multiple Schedule ◽

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Response Accuracy ◽

Repeated Acquisition ◽

And Performance

Download Full-text

Estrogenic effects of pomegranate extracts in ovariectomized rats

Planta Medica ◽

10.1055/s-0028-1084870 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 74 (09) ◽

Author(s):

W Promprom ◽

W Lijuan ◽

P Munglue ◽

P Kupittayanant ◽

K Indrapichate ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Estrogenic Effects

Download Full-text

Long-term effects of the rhapontic rhubarb extract ERr 731® on estrogen-regulated targets in the uterus and on the bone in ovariectomized rats

Planta Medica ◽

10.1055/s-0031-1282916 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 77 (12) ◽

Author(s):

A Keiler ◽

G Kretzschmar ◽

O Zierau ◽

G Vollmer

Keyword(s):

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Long Term Effects

Download Full-text

Anti-osteoporotic effect of Eucommia ulmoides cortex in ovariectomized rats

Planta Medica ◽

10.1055/s-0032-1320623 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 78 (11) ◽

Author(s):

B Kim ◽

DW Lim ◽

J Song ◽

H Kim

Keyword(s):

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Eucommia Ulmoides

Download Full-text

IN VITRO UPTAKE OF TRITIATED OESTRADIOL BY THE ANTERIOR HYPOTHALAMUS AND HYPOPHYSIS OF THE RAT

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0640687 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 687-695 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Junzo Kato

Keyword(s):

Incubation Medium ◽

Posterior Hypothalamus ◽

Anterior Hypothalamus ◽

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Free Medium ◽

Cortex Cerebri ◽

Anterior Hypophysis ◽

In Vitro Uptake

ABSTRACT The anterior, middle, and posterior hypothalamus, the cortex cerebri, the anterior hypophysis as well as the diaphragm of adult ovariectomized rats were incubated in vitro with tritiated 17β-oestradiol. The uptake of tritiated oestradiol was differentially distributed intracerebrally with higher accumulation in the anterior hypothalamus and the hypophysis. Lowering the temperature of the incubation medium caused a reduction in the uptake of radioactivity by the anterior hypothalamus as compared to that found in other brain tissues. Tritiated oestradiol taken up in vitro by the anterior hypothalamus and the hypophysis tended to be retained after further incubation in a steroid-free medium. The addition of non-radioactive 17β-oestradiol to the medium inhibited the uptake of tritiated oestradiol by these tissues. Moreover, pretreatment with non-radioactive 17β-oestradiol in vivo prevented the preferential accumulation of tritiated oestradiol in vitro in the anterior hypothalamus and the hypophysis. These results indicate that oestradiol is preferentially taken up in vitro by the anterior hypothalamus and the hypophysis of the rat.

Download Full-text