Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Republic of Korea.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan 49241, Republic of Korea.
Mar Drugs. 2022 Nov 22;20(12):729. doi: 10.3390/md20120729.
Post-menopausal dry mouth or xerostomia is caused by reduced salivary secretion. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of echinochrome A (Ech A) in alleviating submandibular gland dysfunctions in ovariectomized rats that mimic menopause. Female rats that were eight-weeks-old were randomly divided into SHAM-6, -12; OVX-6, -12; and ECH-6, -12 groups (consisting of 6- and 12-weeks post-sham-operated, ovariectomized, and Ech A-treated ovariectomized rats, respectively). The ECH groups had lower body weight than OVX but similar food intake and estradiol or estrogen receptor β expression. However, the ECH groups had lower mRNA expression of sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1c (), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (), fatty acid synthase (), cluster of differentiation 36 (), and lipid vacuole deposition than OVX mice. Moreover, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and iron accumulation were lower in the ECH than in the OVX groups. Fibrosis markers, transforming growth factor β ( and ) increased in the OVX than SHAM groups but decreased in the ECH groups. Aquaporin ( and ) and mucin expressions were downregulated in the OVX groups but improved with Ech A. In addition, Ech A prevented post-menopausal salivary gland dysfunction by inhibiting lipogenesis and ferroptosis. These findings suggest Ech A as an effective remedy for treating menopausal dry mouth.
绝经后口干或口干症是由唾液分泌减少引起的。本研究旨在探讨海胆酮 A（Ech A）缓解卵巢切除术后模仿绝经的大鼠下颌下腺功能障碍的疗效。 8 周龄雌性大鼠随机分为 SHAM-6、-12；OVX-6、-12；ECH-6、-12 组（分别为假手术 6、12 周后、卵巢切除、Ech A 治疗卵巢切除大鼠）。ECH 组的体重低于 OVX 组，但食物摄入量和雌二醇或雌激素受体β表达相似。然而，ECH 组的甾醇调节元件结合蛋白 1c()、乙酰辅酶 A 羧化酶()、脂肪酸合酶()、分化簇 36()和脂质空泡沉积的 mRNA 表达低于 OVX 组。此外，ECH 组的活性氧（ROS）、丙二醛（MDA）和铁积累低于 OVX 组。转化生长因子β（和）在 OVX 组比 SHAM 组增加，但在 ECH 组减少。水通道蛋白（和）和粘蛋白的表达在 OVX 组下调，但 Ech A 可改善。此外，Ech A 通过抑制脂肪生成和铁死亡来预防绝经后唾液腺功能障碍。这些发现表明 Ech A 是治疗绝经后口干的有效方法。
