Improvement in post-partum uterine involution in rats treated with Apios americana

Objective: Apios americana,a plant used as a staple ingredient of native American diets,has various properties,including anti-cancer,anti-hyperglycemic,hypotensive,and anti-inflammatory activity.In Japan,Apios is used as a post-natal medication.After parturition,women undergo a period of recovery as they return to pre-pregnancy conditions.However,few health products that aid post-partum recovery are on the market.We explored whether Apios can accelerate the post-partum recovery process,in particular the involution of the uterus.Methods: Female rats kept in individual cages were mated with two male rats,with the exception of the control group(female rats without mating,on basal diet;n=6).After delivery,rats were divided into five groups based on their diet: basal diet(model;n=6);basal diet+oral intake at 5.4 g/kg of Chanfukang granules(a Chinese patent medicine preparation for post-partum lochia)(positive;n=6);basal diet containing 10% Apios powder(low;n=6);basal diet containing 20% Apios powder(medium;n=6);basal diet containing 40% Apios powder(high;n=6).Five days later,uteri and spleens were weighed.Uterus and spleen indices for each rat were calculated by dividing visceral weight by the total weight.Hormone and cytokine concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Histological analysis of uteri was completed using hematoxylin and eosin(H&E) staining.Expression of matrix metalloproteinases and inhibitors in uteri was measured by western blotting.Results: Our results showed that Apios treatment reduced the post-partum uterus index and regulated the hormone concentrations.Moreover,we found that the process of uterine involution was accelerated,based on morphological changes in the uterus.In addition,our results indicated that Apios alleviated the inflammatory response induced by the involution process.Transforming growth factor β was also found to be regulated by Apios.There were significant downregulation of matrix metalloproteinases and upregulation of their inhibitors by Apios,which suggested that Apios increased the rate of the collagen clearance process.Conclusions: These results,based on experimental observations at the molecular and protein levels,verified our hypothesis that Apios can improve uterine involution,and demonstrated the potential application of Apios in post-partum care.

Electronic Scanning of Uterine Endometrium in Postpartum Cow

Two postpartum cows were used to study the ultrastructural changes of uterine endometrium by using scanning electron microscope.The results showed that the process of repair of uterine endometrium after calving was demonstrated by scanning electron microscope through a series of endometrium biopsy.Some part of the endometrium was damaged after calving and its adjacent endometrium cells became necrosis and exfoliated during the first 7 days post-partum;the cilium and microvillus of the epithelial cell in the undamaged area of the endometrium disappeared.By 26 days postpartum the damaged area reduced and the cilium and microvillus increased in their numbers.The damaged tissues were all repaired by day 60 postpartum.

Peripheral Concentration of Hydroxyproline and 3-methyl-histidine in Postpartum Cow

A total of 16 Friesian cows were used in the study to determine the peripheral concentration of hydroxyproline(HYPRO) and 3 methyl histidine(3 MEHIS).The objectives of the experiment were to find out the relationship between collagen and myosin degradation and uterine involution in the postpartum cow.The results showed tht the mean concentrations of HYPRO and 3 MEHIS were 13.47±2.38 and 18.35±2.77 n mole/mL,respectively,for the cows during the days 60～90 postpartum.And for the cows immediately after calving the concentrations of HYPRO and 3 HEHIS reduced from 34.29 and 28.06 nmole/mL on the day one after calving to the normal lever of 13.23 and 17.97 n mole on the day 50 postpartum,respectively.There was a good correlation between the peripheral concentrations of both HYPRO and 3 MEHIS and the diameters of the involuting uterus(r=0.8128).

Urinary Concentrations of Hydroxyproline and 3-Methyl Histidine in Postpartum Cow

The urinary concentrations of hydroxyproline (HYPRO)and 3 -methyl histidine (3 - MEHIS) were de- termined in 16 Chinese-Holstein cows. The objectives of the experiment were to find out thhe relationship between collagen and myosin ddegradation and uterine involution in the postpartum cow. The results in the experiment showed that the mean concentrations of HYPRO and 3-MEHIS were 138.32±22.99 and 37.09 ±3.90 nmol·mL-1,respectively,for the cows during the days between 60-90 postpartum,and for the cows immediately after calving the concentrations of HYPRO and 3 -MEHIS reduced from 284.30 and 65.48 nmol ·mL-1 on the day one after calving to the normal level of 109.18 and 33.51 nmol·mL^-1 on the day 50 post- partum,respectively. There was a good correlation between the urinary concentrations of both HYPRO and 3 -MEHIS and the diameters of the involuting uterus (r = 0. 79).