[Effect of Chinese drugs for supplementing qi-blood and nourishing gan-shen on transforming growth factor beta1, and sex hormone levels in the follicle fluid of women during IVF-ET cycle].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Chinese drugs for supplementing qi-blood and nourishing Gan-Shen (CD) on transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF beta1) and sex hormone levels in the follicle fluid of women during in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycle. METHODS: Eighty-six women undergoing IVF-ET were randomly assigned to two groups, 45 in the CD group and 41 in the control group. All received the standard regimen for promoting ovulation, but to women in the CD group, 1-week treatment of Cuhuangti Granule was administered during the period of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) down-regulation, and Jinghou Zengzhi Granule was given from time of ovulation promoting with Gn to the day of HCG administration. On the day of oocyte retrieval, TGFbeta1 was detected using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), estradiol (E2), progestone (P), and luteinizing hormone (LH) detected by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Follicle fluid contents of TGFbeta1 and LH in the CM group (3.25 +/- 1.11 pg/L and 0.89 +/- 0.45 IU/L) were obviously higher than those in the control group (2.21 +/- 1.08 pg/L and 0.57 +/- 0.42 IU/L, both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chinese drugs for supplementing qi-blood and nourishing Gan-Shen could significantly improve TGFbeta1 and LH levels in the follicle fluid of women, thus enhancing the embryo implantation rate.

[Transforming growth factor-beta1, estradiol, progesterone and lutropin levels in follicular fluid after ovarian stimulation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1) and the sex hormones in the follicular fluid (FF) on the day of ovum pick-up (OPU) during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) cycles. METHODS: FF and the oocytes were obtained from the follicles of 90 women undergoing ovulation stimulation in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. TGFbeta1, estradiol, progesterone, and lutropin concentrations in the FF samples collected during transvaginal oocyte retrieval were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The maturity and fertilization of the oocytes were observed, and ultrasonography performed to confirm clinical pregnancies 4 weeks after the embryo transfer. RESULTS: In the FF containing mature oocytes, progesterone and lutropin concentrations were significantly higher than those in the FF with immature oocytes. The mean concentrations of TGF beta1, progesterone and lutropin in the FF from fertilized subjects were obviously higher than those in the FF from non-fertilized subjects (P < 0.05), and in subjects with pregnancy, higher mean concentrations of TGFbeta1 and lutropin were detected as compared with the concentrations measured from non-pregnancy subjects (3 631.4+/-1 426.3 pg/ml and 0.74+/-0.25 mIU/ml vs 2 189.2+/-1 180.4 pg/ml and 0.52+/-0.29 mIU/ml respectively, P < 0.05). Estradiol concentrations in the FF seemed to undergo no obvious changes during the whole procedure, and evinced no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSION: Higher lutropin and progesterone concentrations in the FF on the day of OPU may promote oocyte maturation, while TGFbeta1 and lutropin levels appear to be associated with the maturation and fertilization of the oocytes, and may be indicative of the IVF outcome.

Yiqixue buganshen recipe regulates the expression of integrin ανß3 in the endometrium of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation mice.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Yiqixue Buganshen recipe(, YBR) on the expression of integrin ανß3 in the endometrium of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation mice. METHODS: A total of 180 mice were divided into three groups: model group, treatment group and control group. The treatment and model groups were intraperitoneally injected with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue for 7 days; pregnant mare serum gonadotropin was also injected on the 7th day. After 48 h, human chorionic gonadotropin was injected. The control group was injected with an equal volume of saline at the same time. From the start of the experiment, the treatment group was intragastrically administered Jinghouzengzhi Recipe() and Cuhuangti Recipe(). The model group and the control group were intragastrically administered an equal volume of saline. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of integrin ανß3 in mouse endometrium. RESULTS: Integrin ανß3 was expressed in mouse endometrium in all groups. Integrin αßß3 expression increased gradually along with pregnancy, progressing from pregnant day (Pd) 1. Integrin ανß3 expression significantly increased on Pd 4, then began to decrease on Pd 6. Integrin ανß3 expression in the treatment group was higher than in the model group, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). The difference between the treatment group and the control group was not statistically significant (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: YBR improves endometrial receptivity, and may play an important role in embryonic implantation.

[Fertilization rates following 109 half intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of half intracytoplasmic sperm injection (partial ICSI) treatment in infertile patients with potential fertilization failure. METHODS: A total of 109 partial ICSI cycles of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were classified into 5 groups, namely group A (infertile patients for unidentified causes, 17 cycles), group B (oligo-asthenozoospermia patients, 28 cycles), group C (teratozoospermia patients, 8 cycles), group D (primary infertile patients without definite causes, 31 cycles), and group E (secondary infertile patients without definite causes, 25 cycles). The fertilization rate and normal fertilization rate after IVF and ICSI were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the fertilization rate following conventional IVF and ICSI in group A (53.1-/+38.8% vs 72.2-/+34.1%) and group D (58.8-/+31.6% vs 82.7-/+21.4%) (P<0.05), but not in groups B, C and E (P>0.05). The normal fertilization rates following IVF and ICSI in groups A, B, D, E were statistically different (P<0.05), but similar in group C (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: ICSI treatment may increase the fertilization rate of IVF-ET in patients with unexplained infertility and primary infertility, but not in patients with oligo-asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia or secondary infertility.

Study of the dynamic expression of Meis1 in mice

Background: aggressive embryo and receptive endometrium are necessary for successful implantation. On this time endometrium transformates to receptive state, which permits embryonic implantation. Studies about embryonic implantation and endometrial receptivity are always a hot spot in the field of reproductive medicine

Objective: to investigate the expression pattern of Meis1 during peri-implantation in mice endometrium

Materials and Methods: mice for experiment were raised in SPF environment. The mice were mated with a female/male ratio of 2:1. The female mice with detected plugs were regarded as pregnant day 1 [pd1]. Endometrial tissues were collected respectively on pd1, pd2, pd4, pd5 and pd6. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the location of Meis1 in mice endometrium. The expression level of mRNA and protein of Meis1 were further detected using Quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively

Results: we found that Meis1 is located in the cytoplasm and membrane of endometrial glandule epithelium cells and the nucleus of endometrial stromal and decidual cells. Both Quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting showed that Meis1 expressed regularly in mice endometrium. Meis1 mRNA expressed weakly on pd1, then significantly increased on pd4 [p=0.018], and achieved to a peak on pd5 [p=0.0012], it showed a decrease trend on pd6. Meis1 protein expressed weakly on pd1 and pd2, then significantly increased on pd4 and pd5 [p=0.0019], it showed a decrease trend on pd6

Conclusion: meis1 is dynamically expressed in mice endometrium during peri-implantation. The time that Meis1 expression reaches its peak value is coincident with the implantation window, which implied that Meis1 is closely related with embryonic implantation