Effect of rat medicated serum containing you gui wan on mouse oocyte in vitro maturation and subsequent fertilization competence.

Xiao-Hui Jiang,Heng Duan,Shang-Mian Yie,Yan-Li Deng,Xiang Hu,Xin Liang,Xia Zhen,Hua Lu

doi:10.1155/2014/152010

Abstract

You Gui Wan (YGW) is a classic herbal formula in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used for the clinical treatment of infertility. This study was to explore whether YGW has an impact on mouse oocyte maturation in vitro and subsequent fertilization competence. Rat medicated serum containing YGW was prepared by orally administrating YGW. Mouse immature oocytes were cultured with YGW medicated serum and compared to those cultured with or without normal rat serum or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). YGW medicated serum significantly increased the percentages of matured oocytes when compared to the groups with or without normal rat serum (P < 0.01). Furthermore, YGW medicated serum increased the rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) when compared to the groups treated with FSH and with or without normal rat serum (P < 0.001). YGW medicated serum also had significant effects on the mRNA expressions of PKA, CREB, MAPK, PKC, PKG, and MPF and the concentrations of cAMP, cGMP, and NO in matured oocytes. These results indicate that YGW can promote mouse oocyte maturation and IVF in vitro. Signaling pathways, such as the cAMP/PKA/MAPK, the PKC-MAPK, and the NO-cGMP-PKG pathway, which are similar to those induced by FSH, may be responsible for this action.

Highlights

Traditional Chinese medicine or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of treating infertility [1]
By using in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) assays, we showed that rat medicated serum containing You Gui Wan (YGW) can enhance oocyte nuclear maturation in vitro when compared to the blank control and normal rat serum groups
The other signal pathways, such as the protein kinase C (PKC)-mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway and the nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-protein kinase G (PKG) pathway, may be involved in the regulation of meiotic resumption [21], with the PKC-MAPK pathway positively regulating and the NOcGMP-PKG pathway negatively regulating oocyte maturation [22,23,24]. We showed that both follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and YGW increased the oocyte cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentration and the expressions of protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB), MAPK, maturationpromoting factor (MPF), and PKC when compared to the blank control and normal rat serum groups

Summary

Introduction

Traditional Chinese medicine or TCM has a long history of treating infertility [1]. According to TCM theories, which are completely different from Western medicinal theories, the “kidney” has the ability to store congenital essence from parents, as well as the ability to control reproduction, growth, menstruation, conception, and aging in women [2]. A “Kidney Yin” or “Kidney Yang” deficiency is at the root of many reproductive disorders in both males and females. Published surveys have shown that IVF patients predominately fall into “kidney” deficiency patterns, with “Kidney Yang” deficiency being the most prevalent followed closely by “Kidney Yin” deficiency [3]. A major purpose of TCM therapies is to reinforce the “Kidney Yin” or “Kidney Yang” deficiency in patients

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion