Effects Of Acupuncture On Th1and Th2Cytokines In Rats Of Implantation Failure

Objective To explore the effect of acupuncture on Thl, Th2cytokines in rats of implantation failure.Methods Early pregnant rats were randomized into normal group (N), implantation failure group (M), acupuncture group (A), progestin group (P). The model was established with mifepristone. Group A was given acupuncture treatment which selected bilateral "Housanli" and "Sanyinjiao" as the acupoints. Group P was given progestin treatment. Samples of serum, endometrium were collected on Day5,6and8of pregnancy. Observe the number of embryos for each group on the eighth day of pregnancy; check the expression of serum cytokines by ELISA; check the protein at implantation site by ELISA, immunohistochemistry or western-blot; check the mRNA at implantation site by Real-Time PCR.Results Compared with group M, the number of embryos was significantly higher in groups N, A and P; IL-1β, IL-2protein in serum and endometrium were significantly lower in groups N, A and P, while IL-4, IL-10were significantly higher in groups N, A and P; IL-12, LIF, LIFR protein in endometrium were significantly higher in groups N, A and P; the endometrial IL-2, IL-4mRNA were significantly lower in groups N, A and P, while IL-1β, IL-10, LIF, IL-12mRNA were significantly higher in groups N, A and P.Conclusion Acupuncture could improve the poor receptive state of endometrium by altering the expression of cytokines such as stimulating LIF, IL-4, IL-10and IL-12secretion while inhibiting IL-1β, IL-2to improve blastocyst implantation.