Qi Quan, Zhang Xiqian, Yao Li, Chen Ye, Weng Huinan
Reproductive Medicine Center, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangdong, Guangzhou 511442, P.R. China.
Exp Ther Med. 2021 Dec;22(6):1423. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10858. Epub 2021 Oct 11.
Pueratin (Pue) is an extract from Pueraria lobata, and exhibits therapeutic effects for the treatment of inflammation. However, the beneficial effects and mechanisms underlying Pue in the treatment of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) remains to be fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Pue on Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression in rats with DOR, associated with infertility within clinical practice, induced by 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD). A model of DOR was established in female Sprague Dawley rats by an intraperitoneal injection of 80 mg/kg VCD daily for 45 days. From day 1, the Sprague Dawley rats were orally administered with drugs daily for 45 days. They were divided into normal, model, Pue-low dose (L), Pue-medium dose (M) and Pue-high dose (H) groups (50, 100 and 300 mg/kg Pue, respectively). Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E) levels were subsequently detected using ELISA. H&E staining and TUNEL staining were used to evaluate histopathological changes and apoptosis levels in the ovary, respectively. Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression levels in rat ovaries were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Compared with those in the model group, FSH and LH levels in the Pue-L, -M and -H groups were significantly decreased, whilst E levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). After intragastric administration, the volume of the ovaries and uteri of rats in the Pue groups was increased compared with the model group, and the numbers of primordial follicles and primary follicles were also increased. The number of apoptotic cells and the expression of Bax were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05), compared with the model group. In addition, Bcl-2 protein expression and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio were found to be significantly increased in the Pue-treated groups in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05), compared with the model group. In conclusion, Pue treatment improved ovarian function by regulating hormone balance in addition to Bcl-2 and Bax expression.
葛根素（Pue）是从野葛中提取的一种物质，具有抗炎治疗作用。然而，葛根素治疗卵巢储备功能减退（DOR）的有益作用及潜在机制仍有待充分阐明。本研究旨在探讨葛根素对4-乙烯基环己烯二环氧化物（VCD）诱导的、与临床实践中不孕症相关的DOR大鼠中Bcl-2和Bax蛋白表达的影响。通过每天腹腔注射80 mg/kg VCD，连续45天，在雌性Sprague Dawley大鼠中建立DOR模型。从第1天起，Sprague Dawley大鼠每天口服给药45天。它们被分为正常组、模型组、葛根素低剂量（L）组、葛根素中剂量（M）组和葛根素高剂量（H）组（分别给予50、100和300 mg/kg葛根素）。随后使用酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）检测促卵泡生成素（FSH）、促黄体生成素（LH）和雌二醇（E）水平。苏木精-伊红（H&E）染色和末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的缺口末端标记（TUNEL）染色分别用于评估卵巢的组织病理学变化和凋亡水平。使用免疫组织化学和蛋白质印迹法评估大鼠卵巢中Bcl-2和Bax蛋白表达水平。与模型组相比，葛根素-L、-M和-H组中的FSH和LH水平显著降低，而E水平显著升高（P<0.05）。灌胃给药后，与模型组相比，葛根素组大鼠的卵巢和子宫体积增加，原始卵泡和初级卵泡数量也增加。与模型组相比，凋亡细胞数量和Bax表达呈剂量依赖性显著降低（P<0.05）。此外，与模型组相比，在葛根素治疗组中发现Bcl-2蛋白表达和Bcl-2/Bax比值呈剂量依赖性显著增加（P<0.05）。总之，葛根素治疗除了调节Bcl-2和Bax表达外，还通过调节激素平衡改善了卵巢功能。
