Abstract

The objective of the study to evaluate the effect of Qianliening capsule (QLNC) on the expression levels of serum hormones, prostatic estrogen receptor and androgen receptor in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) rats, and investigate the possible molecular mechanisms mediating its anti-BPH activity. Male Sprage-Dawley (SD) rat BPH model was generated. BPH rats were orally treated with different concentrations of QLNC. Blood and the prostatic tissues of animals were obtained. The prostatic weight (PW) and prostatic index (PI) were evaluated; the histopathological changes of prostatic tissue, the levels of serum testosterone and estradiol, the mRNA and protein expression of ER and AR in prostatic tissue were examined by microscopy with hematoxylin and eosin staining HE staining, ELISA, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, respectively. Compared to the model group, the PW and PI in all QLNC-treated groups have significantly lower (p<0.05) serum than T/E₂ in QLNC-treated groups which was elevated significantly (p<0.05 or p< 0.01). Pathomorphism of prostatic tissue in QLNC-treated groups improved. The mRNA and protein expression of ER and AR in QLNC-treated groups decreased significantly. QLNC has significant therapeutic effect on BPH rats. Improvement of sex hormones disorder and regulation of ER and AR are one of the mechanisms by which QLNC treats BPH.

Key words: Benign prostatic hyperplasia; Qianliening capsule; sex hormones; estrogen receptor; androgen receptor.