[Effect of the combination of bushen xuguan recipe and ruanjian huayu recipe on the MMP-2 expression in endometriosis rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of the combination of Bushen Xuguan Recipe (BXR) and Ruan-jian Huayu Recipe (RHR) on the matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) expression of rats with endometriosis (EMS), and to study the pathogenesis and mechanism of EMS. METHODS: The EMS rat model was established. Successfully modeled female SD rats were randomly divided into the combination group (BXR+RHR), the RHR group, and the model group. And a normal control group was set up. After 4 weeks of medicinal treatment, rats were sacrificed in the oestrus cycle. MMP-2 distribution and the staining density in ectopic and eutopic endometrium of the rats were observed under microscope. The MMP-2 expression was determined by immunohistochemical assay (SP method). RESULTS: The MMP-2 expression in the ectopic endometrial tissues of rats in the model group were significantly higher than that of the normal control group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the MMP-2 expression decreased in the combination group and the RHR group (P<0.05). The therapeutic effect of the combination group was most obvious by observing the distribution of MMP-2 and changes of positive staining. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of EMS was correlated with increased activities of MMP-2. The combination method could inhibit the activities of MMP-2 in the ectopic endometrial tissues of EMS rats more effectively than RHR alone, which might be achieved through improving the endocrine environment, and reducing the "invasion" capability of the ectopic endometrium.