[Effect of GnRHa controlled ovarian hyperstimulation on mouse embryo implantation and its mechanism].

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects and underlying mechanism of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) on embryo implantation in mice. Forty female Kunming mice aged 9 weeks were randomly divided into two groups (control and COH groups). The COH group received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of aminocyclin acetate (GnRHa), human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), while the control group was given equal amount of physiological saline by i.p. injection. One male mouse and two female mice were put into the same cage at 16:00 on the hCG injection day, and on the fourth day of pregnancy, 10 mice from each group were killed. The levels of serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were measured by radioimmunoassay; HE staining was used to observe the morphology of ovarian and endometrial tissues. The protein expression levels of endometrial leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3), heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and glycodelin A were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Ten mice from each group were sacrificed on the eighth day of pregnancy, and the status of the uterus and the average number of blastocysts were observed. The results showed that, compared with control group, the serum E2 level in COH group was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while the P level was increased significantly (P < 0.05); the ovarian follicles at different developmental stages were rare, corpus lutea (CL) were visible and multiple, the endometrium was thinned, and the number of endometrial glands was reduced (P < 0.05); the contents of LIF, p-STAT3, HB-EGF and glycodelin A in the endometrium were decreased significantly (P < 0.05) on the fourth day of pregnancy; mouse blastocysts developed slowly and were decreased in number on the eighth day of pregnancy (P < 0.05). The above results suggest that GnRHa COH can affect embryo implantation in mice. The mechanism may be related to the imbalance of gonadal hormone, the changes in the structure of the endometrium and the expressions of LIF, p-STAT3, HB-EGF and glycodelin A in the implantation stage, which may lead to the decrease of endometrial receptivity and the abnormal dialogue between the embryo and the uterus.

Impacts of exposure to 900 MHz mobile phone radiation on liver function in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To study the impacts of exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on liver function in rats. METHODS: Twenty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group and radiated group. The rats in normal group were not radiated, those in radiated group were exposed to EMR 4 h/ d for 18 consecutive days. Rats were sacrificed immediately after the end of the experiment. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and those of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in liver tissue were evaluated by colorimetric method. The liver histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and the protein expression of bax and bcl- 2 in liver tissue were detected by immunohistochemical method. Terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick and labelling (TUNEL) method was used for analysis of apoptosis in liver. RESULTS: Compared with the normal rats, the serum levels of ALT and AST in the radiated group had no obvious changes (P>0.05), while the contents of MDA increased (P < 0.01) and those of GSH decreased (P < 0.01) in liver tissues. The histopathology examination showed diffuse hepatocyte swelling and vacuolation, small pieces and focal necrosis. The immunohistochemical results displayed that the expression of the bax protein was higher and that of bcl-2 protein was lower in radiated group. The hepatocyte apoptosis rates in radiated group was higher than that in normal group (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The exposure to 900 MHz mobile phone 4 h/d for 18 days could induce the liver histological changes, which may be partly due to the apoptosis and oxidative stress induced in liver tissue by electromagnetic radiation.

[Effect of Bushen Tiaojing Recipe containing serum on FSH/cAMP-PKA pathway in in vitro cultured human ovarian granular cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential molecular mechanisms for Bushen Tiaojing Recipe (BTR) improving the endocrine function of ovarian granular cells by observing the effect of BTR containing serum on follicle stimulating hormone/cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A (FSH/ cAMP-PKA) pathway in in vitro cultured human ovarian granular cells. METHODS: The primary ovarian granular cells collected from in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer patients were cultured for 24 h. The human and rat serum containing different concentrations of BTR (low, medium, high dose), and their normal serums were co-incubated with ovarian granular cells for 48 h respectively, and then they were divided into the low, medium, high dose BTR groups and the control group. The levels of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the culture medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. The protein expression of FSHR in ovarian granular cells was detected by Western Blot. The mRNA expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and P450 aromatase (P450arom) in ovarian granular cells were detected by Real-time PCR. RESULTS: In human BTR containing serum groups: Compared with control group, the levels of E2 and cAMP in the culture medium were higher (both P < 0.05) in the medium and high dose BTR groups; the levels of P in the culture medium decreased in the medium dose BTR group (P < 0.01). The protein and mRNA expression of FSHR in ovarian granular cells increased (all P < 0.01), the mRNA expressions of P450arom in ovarian granular cells were higher (P < 0.05, P< 0.01) in the medium and high dose BTR groups. In rat BTR containing serum groups: Compared with the control group, the levels of E2 in the culture medium were higher (all P < 0.01), cAMP in the culture medium were higher (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in the medium and high dose BTR group; the levels of P in the culture medium decreased in the medium dose BTR group (P < 0.01). The protein and mRNA expression of FSHR in ovarian granular cells were higher (all P < 0.01), the mRNA expression of P450arom in ovarian granular cells increased in the medium and high dose BTR groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: BTR could possibly improve the endocrine function of ovarian granular cells by regulating main effector molecules FSHR, cAMP, P450arom, and E2 in FSH/cAMP-PKA pathway of ovarian granular cells.

[Effect of resveratrol on heart function of rats with adriamycin-induced heart failure].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effects of resveratrol (RES) on the heart function of the rats with adriamycin-induced heart failure. METHOD: Thirty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal control (NC) group, adriamycin (ADR) group, RESL + ADR group, RES(H) + ADR group and RES group. RES of 30, 120, 120 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) was given intraperitoneally (ip) once a day for 3 days in RES(L) + ADR group, RES(H) + ADR group and RES group respectively. The other two groups were given the same amount of normal saline the same way. On the 4h day,ADR of 10 mg x kg(-1) was given intraperitoneally once to induce myocardium injury model. After twenty-four hours, the pathological and biochemical changes of the myocardium were examined. RESULT: As compared with NC group, the MDA, NO and NOS of the ADR group were significantly higher (P < 0.05), and the SOD of the ADR group were markedly lower (P < 0.05). As compared with ADR group, the indexes in RES(L) + ADR group, RES(H) + ADR group were exactly opposing, and took on dose dependance (P < 0.05). Light microscopic morphometry of the heart samples of the rats in ADR + RES(L, H) groups revealed typical diminishing of damage. CONCLUSION: RES can relieve the toxic effects of ADR on myocardium, and the cardioprotective effects may be correlated with its antioxidant activity and downregulation of NO.

[Roles of potassium channel in effects of resveratrol on isolated myocardial contractility and heart rate research in guinea pig].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of resvaratrol derivatives on spontaneous HR and CF of isolated guinea pig atrium. METHOD: The dose-effect curve of resvaratrol was observed. The possible mechanism of potassium channels responsible for changes of CF and HR after administering with resvaratrol was measured. RESULT: Resvaratrol reduced the spontaneous HR and weakened the CF in a dose-dependent manner ranging from 10(-6) to 3 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1) (P < 0.05). As compared with Res group, the effects were partly blocked by Gli (P < 0.05) and TEA (P < 0.01), but not blocked by 4-AP, BaCl2, Atropine. CONCLUSION: Resvaratrol can induce negative chronotropic action and negative (inotropic action. The mechanism(s) may relate to the opening of K(ATP) and Kc(Ca).