Tokishakuyakusan, a Kampo medicine, attenuates endometriosis-like lesions and hyperalgesia in murine with endometriosis-like symptoms.

PROBLEM

How are the effects of Tokishakuyakusan (TSS), a traditional Japanese medicine (Kampo) on murine endometriosis model?

METHODS

BALB/c mice were used for making the murine endometriosis model. Homogeneous uterus was surgically implanted with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in peritoneal cavity. We administered 2 weeks of TSS (1.0 g/kg) orally. Upon treatment completion, we performed the hot plate test for all mice and collected blood samples before sacrifice. Then, the endometriosis-like lesions and uteri in the abdominal cavity were harvested. Concentrations of several cytokines in sera and cyst fluids were measured using Bio-Plex Suspension Array System. IL-33 localization was determined by immunohistochemistry. Gene expression of inflammatory cytokines in the endometriosis-like lesions or the eutopic endometrium was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR.

RESULTS

After 14 days of TSS treatment, the numbers of endometriosis-like cysts and cyst weight were significantly decreased. In TSS-treated mice, the latency against heat stimuli was extended. Inflammatory cytokine concentrations in sera were not changed by TSS treatment. TSS intake decreased IL-33 mRNA expression in endometriosis-like lesions and led to the tendency of attenuation of the elevated IL-33 synthesis in the cyst fluids of lesions.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest the TSS ameliorated the hyperalgesia and lesion formation on the LPS-accelerated endometriosis-like model. TSS represents a possible ideal target of novel therapeutics for endometriosis patients with dysmenorrhea.