Figure 1
The effects of QiBaoMeiRan formula (QBMR) on uterus.
Data are the mean ± standard deviation (SD) of samples from 10 mice. P values are based on the results of a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) comparing the treatment group to untreated immature mice. ***p < 0.001 **p < 0.01 and *p < 0.05, compared to the control group. #p < 0.05, compared with 1.125 g/kg group. (▲) p < 0.05, compared with ERα protein relative increase to Control. (A) The weights of uters were measured at the end of the 7-day treatment period. (B) The effects of QBMR treatment on the histology of the uterus in immature mice. Representative photomicrographs taken at 200× and 400× magnification. Insets (Fig. 1Bi-iv) show higher magnifications of endometrium (arrowhead). The square in (Fig. 1Bv) indicates the area shown at higher magnification in (Fig. 1Bvi). (C) The effects of QBMR treatment on the expression of the estrogen receptor (ER) α, ERβ, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and ki-67 antigen in the uterus. Representative photomicrographs taken at 200× magnification of ERα, ERβ expression in the uterus, 100× magnification of PCNA and ki-67 expression in uterus sections from each treatment group are shown: (i) untreated immature mice, (ii) 1.125 g/kg, (iii) 2.25 gr/kg, (iv) 4.5 g/kg QBMR and (v) estradiol valerate (EV). (D) The effects of QBMR on the protein expression levels of estrogen receptor (ER) α, ERβ, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and ki-67 in the uterus by western blot and the analyses were carried out as described in the Materials and Methods.
