Effects of Bushenyiqihexue formula on the endometrial gland apoptosis in mice with blastocyst implantation dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effects of Bushenyiqihexue Formula (Formula for Tonifying the Kidney, Replenishing qi and Harmonizing Blood, FTKRQHB) on the endometrial gland apoptosis in the mice with blastocyst implantation dysfunction.

METHODS

The mice with the first-day pregnancy were divided into the control, model and treatment groups, with 30 in each group, and blastocyst implantation dysfunction was induced by subcutaneous injection of mifepristone in the mice of the model and treatment groups. The pregnancy rate and implantation number of blastocysts were measured and the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bax, Bcl-2, and activated caspase-3 were detected in all the three groups.

RESULTS

The model group had significantly depressed pregnancy rate, implantation number of blastocysts and apoptosis index, and elevated proliferation index of endometrial gland as compared with the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Administration of FTKRQHB (the treatment group) resulted in significant increases in pregnancy rate, implantation number of blastocysts and apoptosis index of the endometrial gland, and a significant decrease in the proliferation index of the endometrial gland as compared with the model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The differences in the four indexes between the treatment group and control group were not significant statistically. The Bax and activated caspase-3 expressions in endometrial gland in the model group became significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.01), whereas those in the treatment group were significant higher than that of the model group (P < 0.01). However, the Bax and activated caspase-3 expressions in endometrial gland were similar in both treatment and control groups.

CONCLUSION

Promoting the increases in Bax and activated caspase-3 expressions in the endometrial gland and bringing into balance between apoptosis and proliferation of the glandular cells at the implantation window phase by FTKRQHB may contribute to the effects of promoting the establishment of endometrial receptivity and improving blastocyst implantation dysfunction.