Objective: To study the effect of point-injection of Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) injection on serum estrogen level and mammary glands in rats.

Methods: 40 female SD rats were randomly and evenly divided into normal group, norma1 saline group, model group and point-injection group. Animals of normal saline group were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline 0.2ml/kg continuously for 30 days. In model group, hyperplasia of mammary glands was established by intraperitoneal injection estradiol benzoate 0.2mg/kg continuously for 25 days, followed by intraperitoneal injection of progesterone 4mg/kg continuously for 5 days. In point-injection group, the mammary gland hyperplasia model was established in the same way but from the first day of administration of the above mentioned drugs on, "Geshu (BL l7), "Ganshu (BL l8) and Rugen (ST l8) were selected for injecting Danshen, 1ml/Point, once daily, 9 times being a therapeutic course. The treatment was given continuously for 3 courses with an interval of 1 day between two courses. After treatment, blood sample was taken for isolating serum. The content of serum estrogen was detected using radioimmunoassay and pathological changes of mammary gland hyperplasia were observed under microscope.

Results: After intraperitoneal injection estradiol benzoate in the rat, serum estrogen level increased significantly and the hyperplasia of mammary glands was evident with a significant difference as compared with the normal control group (P< 0.001), meaning success of the model. In the point-injection group, serum estrogen content lowered considerably and the pathological change lessened obviously compared with those of model group (P<0.0l).

Conclusion: Point-injection can inhibit hyperplasia of mammary glands by way of regulating and correcting disorder of endocrine.

　　Yang Danhong & Jin Xiaoqing
　　Zhejiang College of TCM, Hangzhou 310009, China.