Preliminary study on the mechanisms of acupuncture in promoting embryo implantation in rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the influence of acupuncture on embryo implantation in rat model of embryo implantation dysfunction, and to primarily explore its possible mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Pregnant rats were randomly allocated into the control group, the model group and the acupuncture group. The pregnancy rate and average number of blastocyst were observed, the serum levels of estrodiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and prolactin (PRL) were detected by RIA, and the protein and mRNA expression of progesterone receptor (PR) and prolactin receptor (PRLR) in endometrial tissue of implantation site were determined using immunohistochemical assay and RT-PCR respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pregnancy rate and average number of blastocyst were significantly higher in the acupuncture group than those in the control group respectively (P <0.01). The serum levels of P4 and PRL as well as the protein and mRNA expression levels of PR and PRLR in the model group were significantly lower than those in the other two groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture can promote embryo implantation in rats to a certain degree, and its mechanism might be related with the effects of acupuncture in mediating the sexual hormone levels and the receptor expression of rats.</p>