Effect of bushen tiaojing recipe on the quality of the oocytes and reproductive hormones in the follicular fluid in IVF-ET patients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Bushen Tiaojing Recipe (BTR) on the quality of oocytes, reproductive hormones, and the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP15) of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty infertility patients who prepared for IVF-ET were assigned to two groups according to the treatment order, the treatment group [20 cases, treated with BTR + controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH)] and the control group (treated with COH alone, 40 cases). Age, the time limit for infertility, basal follicle-stimulating hormone (bFSH) concentration, usage days and the dosage of gonadotropins (Gn), serum levels of estradiol (E2), luteotropic hormone (LH), and progesterone (P) on the HCG injection day, the number of retrieved occytes, the fertilization rate, the number of embryos, the high quality embryo rate, and the clinical pregnancy rate were compared. Concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), LH, E2, testosterone (T), and P in the follicular fluid were detected via chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. The mRNA and protein expression of BMP-15 in mature granulosa cells was detected by real-time fluorescent PCR and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirty-two patients were pregnant and the total pregnancy rate was 53.3%. Of them, 19 were pregnant and the total pregnancy rate was 47.5% in the control group, while 20 were pregnant and the total pregnancy rate was 65.0% in the treatment group. But there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the Gn dosage was lower and the high quality embryo rate was higher in the treatment group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in serum concentrations of E2, LH, or P on the HCG injection day, the number of retrieved oocytes, or the fertilization rate (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, FSH concentrations in the follicular fluid were significantly lower and LH concentrations were significantly higher in the treatment group (P < 0.05). The LH concentrations in the follicular fluid were significantly higher in pregnant patients than non-pregnant patients, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05).There was no statistical difference in E2, T, or P concentrations (P > 0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of BMP-15 in granulosa cells was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). It was also higher in pregnant patients than non-pregnant patients, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>During the IVF-ET process, BTR could elevate the quality of oocytes, and increase the sensitivity of ovarian follicles to exogenous Gn, which was correlated with the mRNA and protein expression of BMP-15 in granulosa cells, and changing concentrations of FSH and LH.</p>

Effect of bushen tiaojing recipe on the expressions of Smad1, Smad5, Smad8, and Smad4 in human mural granulosa cells / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Bushen Tiaojing Recipe (BTR) on the expressions of drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein (Smadl), Smad5, Smad8, and Smad4 on human mural granulosa cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-six patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were randomly assigned to two groups in the ratio of 1:2, the treatment group and the control group. Twenty-three patients in the treatment group were treated with BTR and GnRHa/FSH/hCG, while forty-three patients in the control group were treated with GnRHa/FSH/hCG. The mRNA expressions of Smad1, Smad5, Smad8, and Smad4 on mural granulosa cells of the mature follicle were detected by real-time PCR on the ovum retrieval day. The expressions of Smad1, Smad5, Smad8, and Smad4 at the protein level were observed using cell immunofluorescence method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mRNA and protein expressions of Smadl in the granulosa cells were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0.05). There was no statistical difference in the mRNA and protein expressions of Smad5, Smad8, and Smad4 between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mechanisms of BTR for improving the pregnancy rate and the ovarian functions might be correlated with up-regulating mRNA and protein expressions of Smadl of human mural granulosa cells.</p>

Effect of bushen tiaojing recipe on growth differentiation factor-9 in tubal infertility patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect and mechanism of Bushen Tiaojing Recipe on improving oocyte and embryo qualities in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) at the super-ovulatory cycle.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-eight tubal infertility patients undergoing IVF-ET were randomly assigned to two groups. Thirty patients in the treatment group were treated with Bushen Tiaojing Recipe and GnRHa/FSH/hCG, and twenty-eight patients in the control group were treated with GnRHa/FSH/hCG. Contents of GDF-9 in the mature follicular fluid were detected by Western blot. The expressions of GDF-9 in granulose cells were detected by Real-time PCR. The dose of gonadotropin (Gn), the number of oocytes obtained, the fertilization rate, the oocyte cleavage rate, the high quality embryo rate, and the pregnancy rate were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The contents of GDF-9 in the follicular fluid and its expression in granulosa cells were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). The number of oocytes obtained, the fertilization rate, the high quality embryo rate, and the pregnancy rate were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in the dose of Gn or the oocyte cleavage rate.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Bushen Tiaojing Recipe could improve the pregnancy rate of IVF-ET. Its mechanism might be possibly through regulating the GDF-9 contents in the follicular fluid and granulosa cells.</p>