title: Extracts from a traditional Chinese herbal remedy (Zhuyun recipe) improve endometrial receptivity in mice with embryonic implantation dysfunction and ovulation stimulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although ovarian stimulation has an important role in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), it may also have detrimental effects on endometrial receptivity. Traditional Chinese herbal remedy, as a kind of traditional treatments, has been widely and increasingly applied in clinic. In this article, the impact of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) on embryonic implantation, pregnant rate and underlying mechanisms will be investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty-three female pregnant kunming mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, including A, control group; B, ovulation stimulation (OS) group; C, OS+TCM group; D, embryo implantation dysfunction (EID) group; E, EID+TCM group; F, TCM only group. Uterus samples were collected at gestation Day 4 and were detected with immunohistochemistry and Real Time-PCR analyses. Uterine horns were excised to determine the number of pregnant mice and implantation sites on the Day 8 postcoitum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OS group and EID group showed a significant decrease in pregnant rate and the expression of both the endometrial leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and integrin β3 subunit during the implantation window. OS+TCM group and EID+TCM group showed a higher pregnant rate and endometrial LIF and integrin β3 subunit expression compared to OS group and EID group. The number of implanted embryo in EID group was lower than in control group, but higher in EID+TCM group than in EID group. No significant difference was found in the measured indices between the TCM only group and control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OS model and EID model may have a negative influence on endometrial receptivity and embryonic implantation in mice. Conversely, TCM appears to reverse the expression of endometrial LIF and integrin β3 subunit, improves the uterine receptivity in mice and increases pregnant rate and embryonic implantation. It provides a new insight into the clinic infertility's treatment.
authors: Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors: Nan
authors: N
authors: Yu
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Yang
authors: Tailang
authors: T
authors: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005865:Gestational Age; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D039661:Integrin beta3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D039661:Integrin beta3; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; C507838:Lif protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger