1Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Directorate of Veterinary Services, Veterinary Research Laboratories, Private Bag, Kabete, Kangemi, 00625, Nairobi, Kenya
College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu-210 095, China
*Corresponding author's e-mail: rrui@njau.edu.cn
This study was conducted to assess the effects of icariin (ICA) an ingredient of Epimedium species, on reproductive parameters in mice. Serum, uterus and ovarian samples were collected after treatment. We determined the reproductive index (RI) and in vitro maturation (IVM) rates of oocytes. The serum was tested for 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) and progesterone (P4) using radioimmunoassay (RIA) and ovaries were analyzed for mRNA expression of Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (Star), Cytochrome p450 family 19 subfamilies a polypeptide 1 (Cyp19a1) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Hsd17b1), genes using Real-time Quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR). Protein expression of estrogen receptors (ER)α, β, and progesterone receptor A (PRA) were detected using western blot (WB). ERα from treatment group was increased (p<0.05) while ERβ and PRA were decreased (p<0.05). ICAregulated ovarian development through the estrogen receptor pathway. ERβ expression was evidently increased and this may be the pathway that is utilized for its mode of action.
Estrogen, Estrogen receptors, Gene expression, Mice, Progesterone
