Objective: To investigate the effect of
Kidney replenishing herbs (KRH) on ovarian function of experimental rats with
dexamethasone
induced osteoporosis (OP). Methods: Radioimmunoassay was used to analyse blood level of growth hormone (GH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E 2), progesterone (P), testosterone (T) and prolactin (PRL) of animals and data of three groups, the normal control group, the pathologic control group (non treated OP model) and the treated group (model rats treated with KRH) were compared. Weight and histomorphological features of ovary and uterus of the rats were also observed. Results: As compared with the normal control group, levels of GH, LH, FSH, E 2 and P in the pathologic control group were significantly lowered (P<0 05), and the weight of ovary and uterus decreased (P<0 05). In comparison of the treated group and the pathologic group, GH, LH, FSH, E 2 and P levels were significantly higher and weight of ovary and uterus heavier in the treated group (P<0 05). No obvious changes occurred in T and PRL levels. KRH showed markedly improving effect on the ovarian and uterine morphological construction of rats. Conclusions: KRH could elevate the level of GH, LH, FSH, E 2 and P, increase the weight and improve the histomorphologic features of ovary and uterus in OP rats, it demonstrated that KRH has therapeutic effect in treating
dexamethasone induced OP rats.