Abstract
PURPOSE: We investigated the protective effects of the herbal formulation KH-204 in the bladder of androgen-deprived rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male rats aged eight weeks were randomly divided into four groups, containing eight rats each: sham operation only (normal control group), androgen-deprived only (androgen-deprived control group), and androgen-deprived followed by treatment with 200 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg of KH-204. After 0.5 mg/kg of leuprorelin was subcutaneously injected in the androgen-deprived groups, the oral administration of either distilled water in the two control groups or KH-204 in the treatment group was continued for four weeks. Serum testosterone levels, RhoGEF levels, nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-related parameters, oxidative stress, and histologic changes were evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: Treatment with the herbal formulation KH-204 (1) increased serum testosterone levels; (2) restored the expression of RhoGEFs, endothelial NO synthase, and neuronal NO synthase; (3) increased the expression of superoxide dismutase; and (4) decreased bladder fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the positive effects of KH-204 on the urinary bladder may be attributed to its antioxidant effects or to an elevation in NO-cGMP activity.