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The Herbal Medicine Unkei‐to Stimulates the Secretion of a Cytokine‐induced Neutrophil Chemoattractant, CINC/gro, in the Rat Ovarian Cell Culture
Author(s) -
Yasui Toshiyuki,
Matsuzaki Toshiya,
Ogata Rie,
Kiyokawa Machiko,
Ushigoe Kenjiro,
Uemura Hirokazu,
Kuwahara Akira,
Ikawa Hiroshi,
Maegawa Masahiko,
Furumoto Hiroyuki,
Aono Toshihiro,
Irahara Minoru
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0897.2003.01145.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , cytokine , secretion , tumor necrosis factor alpha , ovulation , interleukin , hormone , biology
Yasui T, Matsuzaki T, Ogata R, Kiyokawa M, Ushigoe K, Uemura H, Kuwahara A, Ikawa H, Maegawa M, Furumoto H, Aono T, Irahara M. The herbal medicine Unkei‐to stimulates the secretion of a cytokine‐induced neutrophil chemoattractant, CINC/gro, in the rat ovarian cell culture. AJRI 2003; 49:–© Blackwell Munksgaard, 2003 PROBLEM AND METHOD OF STUDY: We investigated the ovulation‐inducing effects of Unkei‐to , a Japanese herbal medicine, in relation to the production of sex steroid hormones (17β‐estradiol and progesterone), cytokine‐induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC/gro), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) in the rat ovarian cell culture. RESULTS: Unkei‐to at a concentration of 100 μg/mL significantly stimulated the secretions of 17β‐estradiol and progesterone ( P < 0.01) in cultured whole ovarian dispersates. Unkei‐to also enhanced the secretion of CINC/gro in a dose‐dependent manner, and the secretions of CINC/gro increased significantly at concentrations of 10 and 100 μg/mL ( P < 0.01). These stimulatory effects of Unkei‐to on steroidgenesis and CINC/gro production are very similar to those of another Japanese herbal medicine, Toki‐Shakuyaku‐san . In addition, Unkei‐to significantly ( P < 0.01) enhanced the secretions of both IL‐1β and TNF‐α, which are known to stimulate the secretion of CINC/gro in the ovulatory process, at concentrations of 10 and 100 μg/mL. The stimulatory effect of Unkei‐to at a concentration of 100 μg/mL on IL‐1β/was significantly ( P < 0.01) lower than that of Toki‐Shakuyaku‐san , while the stimulatory effects of these two herbal medicines at a concentration of 100 μg/mL on TNF‐α were similar. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that Unkei‐to can stimulate ovarian steroidgenesis and the ovulatory process by inducing the secretion of CINC/gro with IL‐1 β and TNF‐α in vitro . Unkei‐to has stimulatory effects on both steroidgenesis and the ovulatory process in the ovary as well as a stimulatory effect on the hypothalamus‐pituitary axis, and it may be useful for treating patients with ovulatory disorders.