Effects of Bushenyiqihexue Formula on the Endometrial Gland Apoptosis in Mice with Blastocyst Implantation Dysfunction

Objective: To observe the effects of Bushenyiqihexue Formula (补肾益气和血方 Formula for Tonifying the Kidney, Replenishing qi and Harmonizing Blood, FTKRQHB) on the endometrial gland apoptosis in the mice with blastocyst implantation dysfunction. Methods: The mice with the first-day pregnancy were divided into the control, model and treatment groups, with 30 in each group, and blastocyst implantation dysfunction was induced by subcutaneous injection of mifepristone in the mice of the model and treatment groups. The pregnancy rate and implantation number of blastocysts were measured and the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bax, Bcl-2, and activated caspase-3 were detected in all the three groups. Results: The model group had significantly depressed pregnancy rate, implantation number of blastocysts and apoptosis index, and elevated proliferation index of endometrial gland as compared with the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Administration of FTKRQHB (the treatment group) resulted in significant increases in pregnancy rate, implantation number of blastocysts and apoptosis index of the endometrial gland, and a significant decrease in the proliferation index of the endometrial gland as compared with the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The differences in the four indexes between the treatment group and control group were not significant statistically. The Bax and activated caspase-3 expressions in endometrial gland in the model group became significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.01), whereas those in the treatment group were significant higher than that of the model group (P<0.01). However, the Bax and activated caspase-3 expressions in endometrial gland were similar in both treatment and control groups. Conclusion: Promoting the increases in Bax and activated caspase-3 expressions in the endometrial gland and bringing into balance between apoptosis and proliferation of the glandular cells at the implantation window phase by FTKRQHB may contribute to the effects of promoting the establishment of endometrial receptivity and improving blastocyst implantation dysfunction.

THE BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION OF RABBIT BLASTOCYST PEPTIDES (RBPs)

The inhibitory effect of rabbit blastocystic peptides (RBPs) on lymphocyte transfor-mation was studied by the method of measuring the incorporation of ~3H- thymidine intoDNA. The results indicated that RBPs inhibited PHA-stimulated rat and human lympho-cyte transformation in vitro. In the concentration ranging from 40 to 200 μg/2.5 ml, theinhibition was dose-dependent. No obvious inhibitory action was found with hCG (16- 128IU/2.5 ml), progesterone (250 ng- 1 μg/2.5 ml) and pregnant rabbit serum. It was furtherdemonstrated that RBPs at a higher dosage (200 μg/ml) was inhibitory to PGF_(2α) secretion.On the other hand, the ~3H- leucine incorporation of rabbit endometrium was enhanced bythese peptides, and this action could be blocked by the addition of actidine.

Role of cyclooxygenase-2 signaling pathway dysfunction in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion

Background Experimental evidence indicates that cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2） plays a critical role in blastocyst implantation; however, little is known of the role of COX-2 in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion （URSA）. Methods We evaluated the expression level and potential signaling pathway of COX-2 in 30 cases of URSA who were excluded the abnormality of chromosomes, anatomy, endocrine, infectious, autoimmune diseases and in 30 normal pregnancies. Results The mRNA and the protein expression level of COX-2 in the URSA group （-0.238±0.848, 0.368±0.089, respectively） were significantly lower than that in the control group （1.943±3.845, 1.046±0.108, respectively） （both, P 〈0.01）. The expression of prostaglandins PGF2a, PGD2, PGE2, and PGI2, in the URSA group （（2326.0±295.6） pg/ml, （2164.0±240.5） pg/ml, （238.7±26.4） pg/ml, （2337.0±263.0） pg/ml, respectively） were significantly lower than that in the control group （（3450.0±421.7） pg/ml, （3174.0±415.6） pg/ml, （323.5±43.8） pg/ml, （3623.0±460.4） pg/ml, respectively） （P 〈0.05）. The mRNA expression level of PPARI3 and RXRa （0.859±0.653, -0.172±0.752, respectively） in URSA group was significantly lower than that in the control group （1.554±1.735, 0.777±2.482, respectively） （both P 〈0.05）. The mRNA and protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A （VEGF-A） in the URSA group （2.010±1.522, 0.35±0.46） was significantly lower than that in the control group （4.569±2.430, 0.750±0.350） （both P 〈0.05）. Conclusions COX-2 and the COX-2-derived PGI2 signaling pathway possibly play an important role in successful embryo implantation, and their decreased expression may result in URSA. The decreased expression may influence the expression of VEGF-A which interferes with placental angiogenesis causing failure of embryo implantation, leading to spontaneous abortion.