Inhibitory effects of hesperidin on estrogen-and progestin-induced mammary hyperplasia in female rats
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of hesperidin(Hsp)on mammary gland hyperplasia(MGH)rats and the possible mechanism.Methods Sixty female rats were randomly divided into blank,model,control and experimental-L,-M,-H groups.Except for blank group,all other groups were injected intramuscularly with estrogen and progestin to induce MGH model in rats.The experimental-L,-M and-H groups were given 25,50,100 mg·kg-1 Hsp by gavage.The control group was given 5 mg·kg-1 tamoxifen by gavage.The blank and control groups were given an equal volume of 0.9%NaCl by gavage.Six groups of rats were administered once a day for 30 days.After the administration,the height and diameter of nipples and the uterine coefficient were measured.The serum sex hormone content was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,the levels of oxidative stress indicators were detected using corresponding kits,and the expressions of related proteins were detected using Western blot.Results The nipple diameters of rats in experimental-M and-H groups,control group,model group and blank group were(1.41±0.20),(1.18±0.21),(1.23±0.20),(1.75±0.13)and(1.02±0.06)mm;the nipple heights were(1.62±0.24),(1.41±0.19),(1.47±0.16),(1.87±0.32)and(1.23±0.14)mm;the uterine indexes were(0.55±0.08),(0.37±0.05),(0.41±0.04),(0.72±0.11)and(0.34±0.03)mg·g-1;the relative expression levels of estrogen receptor alpha(ERα)were 0.54±0.05,0.13±0.02,0.13±0.03,0.89±0.08 and 0.10±0.02;the relative expression levels of progesterone receptor(PR)were 0.43±0.03,0.08±0.01,0.87±0.07,0.20±0.04 and 0.14±0.03;the phosphorylated-extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2(ERK1/2)/ERK1/2 were 0.50±0.03,0.06±0.02,0.83±0.05,0.09±0.04 and 0.04±0.01,respectively.Compared with model group,the differences of above indexes in the experimental-M,-H groups and control group were statistically significant(all P<0.05).Conclusion Hsp could reduce nipple diameter,height,and uterine coefficient,regulate sex hormone levels,resist oxidative stress,and inhibit the expression of ERα,PR and p-ERK1/2 proteins in rats.