Objective: To explore the effective mechanism of Bushen Yugong Granule (BSYGG, a Chinese medicine preparation) in treating infertility due to uterine dysgeneia.
Methods: (1) Clinical study: Serum level of sex hormone and endometrial content of estradial receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in follicle period of 60 patients (the tested group) were measured and compared before and after treatment, and the data were also compared with those of 70 normal women (the control group). (2) Experimental study: Rats were divided into the control group and 3 tested groups fed with different dose of BSYGG. Pathologic examination of pituitary, ovary and uterus of rats after BSYGG treatment, and serum levels of ER, PR were measured. Also, an estrogen activity experiment was adopted in some young cophorectomized rats.
Results: (1) Clinical study, the difference of serum sex hormone levels between the tested and the control group was insignificant. The percentage of patients in tested group with endometrial ER content over ++ was lower than that in the control group (46.9% vs 72.4%) significantly (P < 0.05), after treatment, it arised to 65.4% in test group, the change after treatment was significant (P < 0.05). (2) Experimental study: The number of follicle, weight of uterus and serum E2 level increased significantly after BSYGG treatment. The endometrial content of ER in the control group was 29.25 +/- 17.03%, while in the tested group, it was 67.75 +/- 24.56%-83.00 +/- 9.87% after treatment, the difference between the two groups was significant (P < 0.005).
Conclusion: BSYGG has an estrogen-like activity, it could increase the endometrial content of ER, enhance the effect of estrogen on uterus and promote the uterine development, so as to elevate the fertilization rate.