Effects of Caulis Sargentodoxae Granule on expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor-2 in rats with endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Caulis Sargentodoxae Granule (CSG), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for treating endometriosis, on expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor-2 fetal liver kinase-1 (Flk-1) in rats with endometriosis. METHODS: A rat model of endometriosis was established by autotransplant of endometria. Forty-eight endometriosis rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: untreated group, castrate group, mifepristone group (5 mg/kg) and low- (20 g/kg), medium- (40 g/kg) and high-dose (80 g/kg) CSG group. After 21-day consecutive treatment, the expressions of VEGF and its receptor Flk-1 in ectopic endometria were detected by immunohistochemical method, and the volume of the ectopic endometria was also measured by using electronic digital calipers. RESULTS: Compared with the untreated group, the endometrial volumes in the treated groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05) except for the low-dose CSG group. Histopathologic observation showed that the epithelial layer of ectopic endometrium was less and the thickness of epithelial layer was thinner than those in the untreated group (P<0.01), but the low-dose CSG group had few changes. The VEGF and its receptor Flk-1 expressed abundantly in the cytoplasm of the glandular epithelium and vascular endothelial cell in all the groups. Compared with the untreated group, the expressions of VEGF and Flk-1 of ectopic endometrium in the CSG-treated groups, the mifepristone group and the castrate group were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: CSG can treat the endometriosis in rats, and its action may be associated with decreasing the expressions of VEGF and its receptor Flk-1 in ectopic endometrium.