Electroacupuncture attenuates chronic salpingitis transforming growth factor-ß1/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on rats with chronic fallopian tube inflammation and its potential mechanisms. METHODS: Thirty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into Control, Model and EA groups. The pathological morphology of the fallopian tubes was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining. The results of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphorylation (p)-p38MAPK in rat oviduct tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results of P38MAPK, p-P38MAPK and TGF-ß1 in rat oviduct tissues were detected by immunofluorescence. The expression level of p38MAPK, p-P38MAPK, TGF-ß1 protein in rats was detected by Western blot. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect mRNA expression levels of TGF-ß1. RESULTS: It found that collagen fibers counts decreased significantly in EA group compared to Model group. The phosphorylation of P38MAPK in EA group was significantly reduced compared to Model group. The serum TGF-ß1 expressions in EA group increased decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture was able to attenuate chronic salpingitis through down-regulating TGF-ß1/MAPK signaling pathway.

Modified Gexiazhuyu decoction alleviates chronic salpingitis p38 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate pharmacodynamic effects of modified Gexiazhuyu decoction (MGXZYD) and explore the underlying mechanism in the treatment of chronic salpingitis METHODS: Chronic salpingitis model rats were firstly constructed and the blood was collected to detect the whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity. Rat oviduct were collected to evaluate the macroscopic damage and the pathological injury and fibrosis of oviduct by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining. Elisa assay was to detect the production interleukin-1 ß (IL-1ß) in serum and collagen I (COL-1), matrix metalloprotein 9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) in oviduct tissue. And immunohistochemical staining with MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in oviduct tissue were examined. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38MAPK), phospho-p38MPAK (p-p38MPAK), transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) in oviduct. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), p-p38MPAK, in oviduct tissue were detected by immunofluorescence method. The mRNA of p-p38MAPK, α -SMA, COL-1, MMP-9, TIMP-1 was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Rats administrated with MGXZYD demonstrated decreased the whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity. MGXZYD obviously improved the tubal wall thickening, swelling and pelvic adhesion. And HE and Masson staining showed MGXZYD improved the pathological injury and fibrosis of oviduct. The results of MTT assay and flow cytometry indicated that MGXZYD could decreased the NIN-3T3 cells viability and improved the apoptosis. Besides, MGXZYD inhibited the protein and / or mRNA of TGF-ß1, IL-1ß, COL-1, α-SMA, p-p38MAPK expressions and increased the production of MMP-9/TIMP-1. CONCLUSION: MGXZYD could prevent the progression of chronic salpingitis by inhibited the fibrocyte and inflammation which inhibited the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.