SUPPRESSION OF SPONTANEOUS DEVELOPMENT OF UTERINE ADENOMYOSIS BY A CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE, KEISHI-BUKURYO-GAN, IN MICE

Keishi-bukuryo-gan (KBG) is a traditional Chinese herbal remedy and ha s been used for the treatment of gynecological disorders, such as hype rmenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and infertility. The effects of KBG on the d evelopment of uterine adenomyosis, which is characterized by an abnorm al growth of glands and stroma into and beyond the smooth muscle layer s of the uterus, were examined in an experimental animal model using t he SHN strain of mice. Mice fed hand-made chow containing relatively h igh doses of KBG (0. 5 % and 1 %) showed a significantly lower inciden ce of adenomyosis and lower activity of thymidylate synthetase (TS) in the uteri than mice fed control handmade chow containing no KBG. The long-term exposure to KBG between 25 and 120 days of age hardly affect ed the estrous cycle, food intake and body weight. However, mice provi ded with chow containing a low dose of KBG (0.1 %) showed no differenc e in the incidence of adenomyosis as compared with the controls. The i nhibitory effects of the high doses of KBG were nullified by pituitary isografting, which has been proved to enhance the development of aden omyosis. The present mouse data support the view in humans that the or al administration of KBG is a useful tool for the treatment of uterine adenomyosis.