Effects of Huoxue Xiaoyi Fang on ultrastructure of ovarian granulosa cells in rats with endometriosis.

Objective To investigate the effects of Huoxue Xiaoyi Fang (Blood-moving and Endometriosis- removing Formula, HXXYF) on the ultrastructure of ovarian granulosa cells in rats with endometriosis. Methods Rats were randomly divided into blank group, sham-operated group, model group, and HXXYF group. The latter two groups were formed in the following way. First, rat models with endometriosis were established by allogeneic endometrial transplantation from donors to recipients and recipients were then randomly divided into model group and HXXYF group. After model establishment, while blank group, sham-operated group, and model group were given distilled water, HXXYF group was given HXXYF by gavage for 15 consecutive days. Then ovarian tissues of rats in different groups were taken for HE staining to observe follicular development, FSHR polyclonal antibody immunohistochemical staining to locate ovarian granulosa cells, and transmission electron microscopy to observe ultrastructure of ovarian granulosa cells. Results In model group, the numbers of primordial follicles, primary follicles, secondary follicles, and mature follicles were decreased, the numbers of corpus luteum were increased significantly, and granulosa cells were poorly arranged. In addition, ultrastructure of ovarian granulosa cells was severely damaged, and even demonstrated irreversible organelle damage, such as nucleus chromatin margination, mitochondrial vacuolation, and endoplasmic reticulum degranulation. In blank group, sham-operated group and HXXYF group, follicles were all developed at different levels, ovarian granulosa cells were arranged in a regular way, and organelle structure was complete. Conclusion Endometriosis causes serious damage to organelles of ovarian granulosa cells in rats like mitochondrion and endoplasmic reticulum, and affects follicular development. HXXYF can improve follicular development by reducing ultrastructural damage to granulosa cells in rats with endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]