Table_4_Effect of acupuncture on the opening time of implantation window and endometrial receptivity in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation rats during peri-implantation period.xlsx

PurposeTo investigate the effect of acupuncture for improving the pregnancy rate of COH rats from the viewpoint of regulating the opening time of the implantation window and endometrial receptivity.
MethodsExperimental rats were randomly divided into normal group (N), model group (M) and acupuncture group(A), and samples were collected on Day 4, 5 and 6 after mating. COH rats were treated with acupuncture at SP6, LR3, and ST36 once a day for 7 times. The pinopodes were observed under a scanning electron microscope. Serum estrogen and progesterone levels were measured via ELISA. The protein and mRNA levels of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), integrin β3, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) in the endometrium were evaluated via West-blot, immunohistochemistry, and PCR.
ResultsCompared with group N, the pregnancy rate of group M was significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the abnormal serum hormone levels and implantation window advancement were observed. Compared with group M, the pregnancy rate of group A was significantly increased (P<0.05), the supraphysiological serum progesterone levels were restored to normalcy (P<0.05), and the advanced implantation window was restored to a certain extent. Further, the abnormal ER, PR, LIF, integrin β3, VEGF, and FGF-2 expression levels of the endometrium got recovered to varying degrees.
ConclusionAcupuncture may restore the estrogen and progesterone balance in COH rats and the forward shift of the implantation window to a certain extent, improving the endometrial receptivity and finally improving the pregnancy rate of COH rats.

研究目的：本研究从调控着床窗（implantation window）开放时机与子宫内膜容受性（endometrial receptivity）的视角出发，探究针灸对控制性超排卵（controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, COH）大鼠妊娠率的改善作用。实验方法：将实验大鼠随机分为正常组（N组）、模型组（M组）与针灸组（A组），于交配后第4、5、6天采集样本。针灸组大鼠每日针刺三阴交（SP6）、太冲（LR3）及足三里（ST36）穴位，连续治疗7次。通过扫描电子显微镜观察子宫内膜胞饮突（pinopodes）的形态；采用酶联免疫吸附测定（enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA）检测血清雌激素与孕激素水平；通过West-blot、免疫组化及聚合酶链式反应（polymerase chain reaction, PCR）检测子宫内膜组织中雌激素受体（estrogen receptor, ER）、孕激素受体（progesterone receptor, PR）、白血病抑制因子（leukemia inhibitory factor, LIF）、整合素β3（integrin β3）、血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF）及成纤维细胞生长因子2（fibroblast growth factor 2, FGF-2）的蛋白与mRNA表达水平。实验结果：与正常组相比，模型组大鼠的妊娠率显著降低（P<0.05），且伴随血清激素水平异常与着床窗提前开放的现象。与模型组相比，针灸组大鼠的妊娠率显著升高（P<0.05），血清中异常升高的孕激素水平恢复至正常范围（P<0.05），提前开放的着床窗也得到一定程度的纠正。此外，子宫内膜组织中异常表达的ER、PR、LIF、整合素β3、VEGF及FGF-2均得到不同程度的恢复。研究结论：针灸可在一定程度上恢复控制性超排卵大鼠的雌激素与孕激素平衡，改善着床窗前移的情况，提升子宫内膜容受性，最终提高该类大鼠的妊娠率。