Studying the nature of ascending-descending-floating-sinking of Chinese medicines based on gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

Objective: to explore the nature of ascending-descending-floating-sinking of Traditional Chinese Medicine on normal rats using gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRh).

Methods: Normal male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered six floating Chinese medicines and seven sinking Chinese medicines for 14 d. then, GnRh and relevant indicators were detected. Initially, the different effects of floating and sinking drugs on the body were explored. To verify the effects of floating and sinking drugs on the body, normal rats were orally administered Mahuang (Herba Ephedra Sinica) and Tinglizi (Semen Lepidii Apetali) for 14 d. Then, GnRh antagonists were administered. We observed the changes of relevant indicators and clarified the correlation between GnRh and the laws of floating and sinking.

Results: Floating Chinese medicines significantly increased the testicular coefficients; GnRh level in the serum; the protein level of GnRh receptor (GnRhR) in the testis; and the mRNA levels of androgen receptor (AR), small C-terminal domain phosphatase (SCP) 3, SCP2, SYCE1, SMC1B, SMC3, and Rec8 (P < 0.01 or < 0.05). Sinking Chinese medicines did not react similarly, while GnRh antagonists blocked the regulatory effect of Mahuang (Herba Ephedra Sinica) but did not affect Tinglizi (Semen Lepidii Apetali).

Conclusions: GnRh may be closely related to the nature of ascending-descending-floating-sinking of Chinese medicine. Floating Chinese medicines may promote their medicinal properties by regulating GnRH level; however, sinking Chinese medicines did not affect GnRh level.