Effects of toosendanin on pregnancy and uterine immunity alterations in mice.

This study was conducted to explore the abortifacient effect and the mechanisms of the Chinese herbal medicine component toosendanin, and to elucidate the significance of the Th1 cytokines IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the occurrence of abortion. Graded doses of toosendanin were given by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) to mice at day 5, 6, 7 of gestation. The levels of Th1 cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) in serum and uterine tissues from mice sacrificed at day 8 were analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Presence of T lymphocytes in endometrium was detected by immunohistochemistry. The results revealed that injection of toosendanin could produce a dose-dependent toxicity. The IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha content in serum and uterine tissues were increased significantly. The CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were also increased in the endometrium of toosendanin treated groups. In conclusion, toosendanin is pregnancy-toxic to animals and it is relevant to the increased contents of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocytes.

Protective effects of baicalin against bromocriptine induced abortion in mice.

The Chinese herbal medicine Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae) had been used for restless fetus for hundreds of years in China, however, little attention had been given to the components of the herb, specifically its ability to exert abortion-preventing effects at the maternal fatal interface. The present study was carried out to investigate the protective effects of baicalin and the possible mechanisms on pregnancies. Baicalin (at 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg BW respectively) was gavaged to bromocriptine-treated mice from gestation day (GD) 1 through GD 7. Abortion rates were calculated and the changes of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and progesterone were assayed on different gestation days. Results showed that the embryonic death rates were significantly decreased in groups supplemented with 20 or 50 mg/kg BW of baicalin, accompanied with reduced IFN-gamma and enhanced progesterone contents. Moreover, the highest levels of IFN-gamma appeared on GD 5 both in the control and in baicalin treated groups. It is concluded that baicalin can exert an anti-abortive effect by cutting down the production of IFN-gamma and elevating the levels of progesterone in a dose dependent manner and IFN-gamma is involved in an inflammatory reaction which is beneficial for a successful implantation.

Effects of Radix scutellariae and Rhizoma atractylodis on LPS-induced abortion and the uterine IL-10 contents in mice.

In the present study, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected i.v. via the tail vein (0.1 microg per mouse) to induce abortion (embryo resorption) in Kunming mice. The interleukin 10 (IL-10) contents in the uterus were assayed by ELISA. The results revealed that the IL-10 level was significantly decreased in the LPS-induced abortion group of mice compared to the controls. Use of Pentoxifylline (PXF), or a combination of Radix scutellariae and Rhizoma atractylodis reversed the LPS effects: bringing down the fetal resorption rate, and increasing the IL-10 level significantly. The study indicates that the anti-abortive effects of PXF and the combination of Radix scutellariae and Rhizoma atractylodis are closely related to up-regulation of the Th2 cytokine IL-10 at the maternal fetal interface.