Yimu San improves obstetric ability of pregnant mice by increasing serum oxytocin levels and connexin 43 expression in uterine smooth muscle.

Prolonged farrowing remains one of the critical challenges in intensive pig farming. This study aims to explore the effects and mechanism of Yimu San (YMS), a Chinese veterinary medicine micro mist, on delivery ability with mouse models. Thirty-two pregnant mice were randomly divided into a control group and low-YMS, med-YMS, and high-YMS groups. The labor process time and stillbirth rate were recorded, the levels of serum oxytocin and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Contractility measurements of the isolated uterus and the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in uterine smooth muscle were evaluated. The results showed that compared with the control group, the birth process time and stillbirth rate in the med-YMS and high-YMS groups were remarkably lower. The in vitro uterine contractions, levels of oxytocin, PGE2, and Cx43 in the med-YMS and high-YMS groups were significantly higher than those in the control group. The differences of the above measurements between the low-YMS group and the control group were not obvious. It can be speculated that YMS could significantly promote labor in pregnant mice by enhancing the levels of oxytocin, Cx43, and PGE2.

[Effect of immunotherapy on house dust mite allergen-specific IgG1 and igG4 antibodies in nasal secretion for patients with perennial allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of immunotherapy on allergen-specific IgG1 and IgG4 in nasal secretion for patients with nasal allergy. METHODS: Nasal secretion was collected with suction from normal subjects, patients with allergic rhinitis untreated and treated with immunotherapy. Indirect, non-competitive streptavidin-biotin ELISA was applied to analyze allergen-specific IgG1 and IgG4 in nasal secretion. RESULTS: Patients with nasal allergy both treated and untreated showed a higher concentration of IgG1 and IgG4 (Z = -3.623, -3.061, P < 0.01, respectively), treated group showed higher concentration of IgG1 and IgG4 than untreated group (Z = -2.453, -3.408, P < 0.01, respectively). IgG4 antibody specific to purified allergen Der f I in the treated group was higher than normal subjects (Z = -3.518, P < 0.01), both IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies specific to purified allergen Der f II in treated group were higher than normal subjects (Z = -2.366, -2.936, P < 0.01, respectively) and than untreated group (Z = -2.366, -2.937, P < 0.01, respectively). In the IgG subclasses of IgG1 and IgG4, there was positive correlation among crude mite extract, Der f I and Der f II. There was a positive correlation between IgG1 and IgG4 for all 3 kinds of allergens. There was a positive correlation between IgG1 in the nasal secretion and IgE in the serum and between IgG4 in the nasal secretion and IgE in the serum for crude mite extract. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with nasal allergy showed higher responsiveness to natural allergen exposure and produced higher level of IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies to specific allergens. Immunotherapy increased the concentration of IgG1 and IgG4 antibody in the nasal secretion, which might function as a blocking antibody to specific allergen.