title: [Preliminary study on the mechanisms of acupuncture in promoting embryo implantation in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the influence of acupuncture on embryo implantation in rat model of embryo implantation dysfunction, and to primarily explore its possible mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant rats were randomly allocated into the control group, the model group and the acupuncture group. The pregnancy rate and average number of blastocyst were observed, the serum levels of estrodiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and prolactin (PRL) were detected by RIA, and the protein and mRNA expression of progesterone receptor (PR) and prolactin receptor (PRLR) in endometrial tissue of implantation site were determined using immunohistochemical assay and RT-PCR respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pregnancy rate and average number of blastocyst were significantly higher in the acupuncture group than those in the control group respectively (P <0.01). The serum levels of P4 and PRL as well as the protein and mRNA expression levels of PR and PRLR in the model group were significantly lower than those in the other two groups (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture can promote embryo implantation in rats to a certain degree, and its mechanism might be related with the effects of acupuncture in mediating the sexual hormone levels and the receptor expression of rats.
authors: Department of Integriaive Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan.
authors: Xin-yu
authors: XY
authors: Liu
authors: Guang-ying
authors: GY
authors: Huang
authors: Ming-min
authors: MM
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol