Effect of Tiangui recipe on serum leptin and pituitary gonadotropin in androgen-sterilized ratson serum leptin and pituitary gonadotropin in androgen-sterilized rats

Objective : To explore the effect of Tiangui Recipe (TGR) on obesity and reproductive function in androgen-sterilized rats (ASR). Methods : ASR model was established by subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate to SD female rats at the age of 9 days. Change of serum leptin, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in model rats aged 115 days before and after feeding them with TGR was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Meanwhile, criteria of energy state, including diurnal food intake, retroperitoneal fat depot weight and body weight, were measured and evaluated. Results : ASR had the characteristics of high metabolic rate, energy imbalance and obesity. Serum level of leptin increased and FSH, LH decreased significantly (P<0.01) in model rats as compared with the normal rats. Significant positive correlation between leptin level and body weight (r=0.8977, P<0.001) was observed, and negative correlation was seen between FSH, LH and leptin (r = -0.7517, P<0.001; r= -0.8444, P<0.001, respectively). The endocrine changes of ASR all returned to normal range after the TGR treatment. Conclusion : Obesity and concerned hypogonadotrophic hypogonadal anovulation were expressed in ASR. TGR may play an important role in reducing weight and inducing ovulation.