Objective To investigate the possibility of inducing cell proliferation in the penis tissue of Bushentongluo Recipe (BR)
in emasculated rats. Methods 40 Adult male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, emasculated group, BR group and testosterone propionate group. 2 Weeks after an operation for emasculation the BR group was given BR intragastrically and the testosterone propionate group was given testosterone propionate intramuscularly. The rats in all groups were executed 4 days and 1 week, respectively, after the treatment. The middle segment of the penis of the executed rats was taken for examining the cell proliferation by immunohistochemical techniques (SP method). Results A cell proliferation to a medium degree was found in the penis tissue in the rats in the control group (35.07±2.94) but almost not any cell proliferation in the penis tissue was found 2 weeks after emasculation in the emasculated group (P<0.01). However, DNA synthesis was induced 4 days and 1 week, respectively, after the treatment in the testosterone propionate group and BR group, with a marked increase in the cell proliferation in the penis tissue (20.60±2.66, 19.62±1.75, P<0.05), including fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and vascular endothelial cells, etc. Conclusion The results show that BR can induce proliferation of various types of cells in the penis tissue in the emasculated rats.