Objective: To study the effect of Zuogui Wan on follicular development and ovarian angiogenesis in the rats. Method :The SD rats (160-170 g) were divided into 6 groups: control group(group A)

conjugated estrogens group(group B)

Zuogui Wan patent medicine low dose group (group C)

Zuogui Wan patent medicine high dose group (group D)

Zuogui Wan decocted extract low dose group(group E)

Zuogui Wan decocted extract low dose group(group F)

10 rats each group. The rats were seperately administered with distilled water 20 g·kg-1

conjugated estrogens 65 μg·kg-1

Zuogui Wan suspension 1.875 g·kg-1

Zuogui Wan suspension 5.625 g·kg-1

Zuogui Wan extract equivalent to crude drug 11 g·kg-1

Zuogui Wan extract equivalent to crude drug 33 g·kg-1

qd

for 15 d. Ovarian follicle and corpus luteum of rats were counted. Uterus indexes were counted. In addition

E2 in blood was determinated by enzyme immunoassay(EIA). The rats were divided into 4 groups: control group

conjugated estrogens group(65 μg·kg-1)

Zuogui Wan patent medicine group (5.625 g·kg-1)

Zuogui Wan decocted extract group(equivalent to crude drug 33 g·kg-1)

6 rats each group. Ovarian micrangium was measured by perfusion of ink. Results :D

F

B groups increased antral follicles(21.70±10.40

15.60±2.22

15.60±8.04)and total follicles(32.10±11.57

25.30±5.06

29.10±18.62); B-F groups increased ovary index(0.68±0.11

0.55±0.05

0.68±0.08

0.61±0.10

0.68±0.03); D-F

B groups increased E2 level in blood of the rats(86.92±5.05

68.98±9.19

87.16±10.37

87.39±12.81)ng·L-1

all P<0.01 or P<0.05. Ovarian blood vessel density and lumen in conjugated estrogens group

Zuogui Wan patent medicine group and Zuogui Wan decocted extract group were increased significantly. Conjugated estrogens group and Zuogui Wan decocted extract group group increased ovarian small blood vessels(13.33±2.50

13.17±3.87)

conjugated estrogens group

Zuogui Wan patent medicine group and Zuogui Wan decocted extract group increased ovarian large blood vessels(33.00±5.44

34.33±8.59

35.83±7.63)and the total number of blood vessels(46.33±7.82

45.00±10.84

49.33±11.11)

P<0.05 or P<0.01. Conclusion: Zuogui Wan can improve follicular development and ovarian angiogenesis in 160-170 g rats. The effect may be related to improving the level of E2

estrogenlike effect and ovarian blood vessels. Zuogui Wan decocted extract is more effective than Zuogui Wan patent medicine.