Wenshen Xiaozheng Tang suppresses the growth of endometriosis with an antiangiogenic effect

Objective To evaluate the effect of Wenshen Xiaozhng Tang (WXT) on ectopic endometrial growth and on angiogenesis in endometrial implants in a rat model. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats with endometriotic implants were randomly treated with low-dose WXT, high-dose WXT, or vehicle (negative control) for 28 days. Cell proliferation and vascular density in the lesions were assessed by immunohistochemistry. The levels of VEGF in peritoneal fluid were determined by ELISA. The mRNA expression of HIF-1 alpha and Flk-1 in the endometriotic lesions was evaluated by real-time PCR. Results WXT treatment significantly decreased the lesion size and inhibited cell proliferation in the endometriotic lesions. Lowered vascular density and reduced mRNA expression of HIF-1 alpha in the endometriotic lesions, associated with decreased concentration of VEGF in peritoneal fluid, were also observed in WXT-treated rats. Conclusions These results suggest that WXT could be effective to suppress the growth of endometriosis, partially through its antiangiogenic activity.