Effects of Kangquan Recipe (康泉方) on sex steroids and cell proliferation in rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Objective To investigate the effects of Kangquan Recipe (康泉方, KQR) on sex steroids and cell proliferation in an experimental benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) model in rats. Methods Seventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal group, the model group, the finasteride group, and the low-, middle-, and high-dose KQR groups, 12 in each group. Except those in the normal group, the rats were injected with testosterone after castration for the establishment of BPH model and then given respectively with normal saline, finasteride, and low-, middle-, and high-dose of KQR for 30 days. The levels of plasma testosterone (T) and estradiol (E 2 ) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the mRNA expression ) of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in prostate tissue was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after administration. Results Compared with the model group, the prostate weight, the plasma T, and the mRNA expression of PCNA were significantly lower, and the plasma E 2 and the ratio of E 2 /T were higher in the three KQR groups ( P