Objectives: A traditional Chinese medicine “Tian Gui Recipe (TGR)” has been used to effectively treat clomiphene resistant anovulatory disease and obesity, especially in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cases with hyperinsulinemia. The effect of TGR on obesity and anovulation was investigated in androgen-sterilized rats (ASR).Methods: Female SD rats at the age of 9 days were divided into 3 groups. Group ASR (n=15): anovulation was demonstrated at the age of 70 days by vaginal smear in rats while 1.25 mg of testosterone propionate was injected subcutaneously on its 9th neonatal day. Group A+H (n=25): TGR were administered to ASR at the age of 80 days for 3 weeks. Rats with regular estrous cycle and ovulation after herbal treatment were included in this group. Group C (n=15): normal ovulated rats were recruited. Around the age of 112 days or on proestrous day, all rats were sacrificed under anesthesia. Serum leptin, testosterone (T), estrogen (E2), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were measured with radioimmunoassay (RIA). Double immunofluorescent staining combined with confocal laser scanning microscope and dual in situ hybridization were carried out on sections through areas of arcuate nucleus (ARC) to determine whether estrogen receptor (ER) immunoreactivity (IR) or long form of leptin receptor (OB-Rb) mRNA were expressed in neuropeptide Y (NPY) immuno- and mRNA-containing neurons, and their relationship to proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA-containing neurons. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to observe the levels of ER-, NPY-,gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH)-IR and gene expression levels of NPY, OB-Rb, and POMC in ARC. Meanwhile, the criteria of energy state,including daily food intake, retroperitoneal fat depot pad and body weight,were measured and evaluated. Values of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were expressed in mean optic density (MOD).Results:Seventeen out of the 25 rats (68%) in Group A+H were ovulated after herbal treatment. ASR characterized with significantly high metabolic rate, energy imbalance and obesity (P