Effects of acupuncture on Th1, Th2 cytokines in rats of implantation failure

Abstract

The aim is to explore the effect of acupuncture on Th1, Th2 cytokines in rats of implantation failure. Early pregnant rats were randomized into normal group (N), implantation failure group (M), acupuncture group (A), progestin group (H). The model was established with mifepristone. Samples of serum, endometrium were collected on Day 5, 6 and 8 of pregnancy. Compared with group M, the number of embryos was significantly higher in groups N, A and H; IL-1β, IL-2 protein in serum and endometrium were significantly lower in groups N, A and H, while IL-4, IL-10 were significantly higher in groups N, A and H; the endometrial IL-2, IL-4 mRNA were significantly lower in groups N, A and H, while IL-1β, IL-10 mRNA were significantly higher in groups N, A and H. Acupuncture could improve the poor receptive state of endometrium due to mifepristone by promoting Th2 cytokines secretion and inhibiting Th1 cytokines to improve blastocyst implantation. Copyright 2012 Juan Gui et al.