Abstract
Objectives
To determine the effect of leonurine hydrochloride (LH) on abnormal bleeding induced
by medical abortion.
Study design
Rats had incomplete abortions induced in early pregnancy using mifepristone in combination
with misoprostol. After abortion, rats were treated with LH for 7 days, and the duration
and volume of uterine bleeding were observed. Approximately 30 min after the last treatment, the animals were killed and the uterine shape was observed.
The sinistro-uteri were suspended in organ baths to record the contraction curves,
including the frequency and tension for 10 min; the dextro-uteri were fixed with formaldehyde for pathologic evaluation. In addition,
blood samples were collected from the femoral artery for the measurement of estradiol
(E2) and progesterone (P) levels by radioimmunoassay.
Results
In in vivo experiments, compared with the model group, LH treatment markedly reduced the volume
of bleeding and intrauterine residual, and significantly shortened the duration of
bleeding. From the contraction curve, LH notably reinforced the frequency and tension
of uterine contractions. LH remarkably elevated the serum estradiol level in rats,
but had no obvious effect on progesterone level.
Conclusions
LH has an inhibitory effect on bleeding caused by incomplete abortion; the mechanism
may be related to up-regulation of the E2 level, leading to an increase in uterine contractions and evacuation of intrauterine
residuum.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 19, 2011
Accepted:
September 6,
2011
Received in revised form:
July 26,
2011
Received:
March 31,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Published by Elsevier Inc.
