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. 2017;18(11):986-993.
doi: 10.1631/jzus.B1600289.

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

Qi-Huan Wang  1 , Shuang Zhang  1 , Li-Meng Qin  1 , Wen-Jun Zhang  1 , Feng-Hua Liu  2 , Jian-Qin Xu  1 , Yun-Fei Ma  1 , Ke-Dao Teng  1
Affiliations

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

Qi-Huan Wang et al. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2017.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Yimu San; Delivery ability; Uterine contraction; Oxytocin; Prostaglandin E2; Connexin 43.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with ethics guidelines: Qi-huan WANG, Shuang ZHANG, Li-meng QIN, Wen-jun ZHANG, Feng-hua LIU, Jian-qin XU, Yun-fei MA, and Ke-dao TENG declare that they have no conflict of interest.

All institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals were followed.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Effects of YMS on the labor process time (a) and stillbirth rate (b) in each group Data are expressed as mean±SD (n=8). * P<0.05 vs. the control group
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effect of YMS on the contractions of uterine smooth muscle (a) Spontaneous rhythmic activity of uterine in different groups. (b) The amplitude of uterine contraction in different groups. (c) The average muscle tension of uterine contraction in different groups. (d) The frequency of uterine contraction in different groups. Data are expressed as mean±SD (n=8). * P<0.05 vs. the control group
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Effects of YMS on serum oxytocin and PGE2 levels Data are expressed as mean±SD (n=8). # P<0.05 vs. the oxytocin level in the control group; * P<0.05 vs. the PGE2 level in the control group
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Effect of YMS on the expression level of Cx43 in uterine smooth muscle Expression of Cx43 in uterine smooth muscle was evaluated by Western blotting. Data are expressed as mean±SD (n=6). * P<0.05 vs. the control group
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Effect of YMS on Cx43 immunoreactivity in myometrium (a) Immunohistochemistry showed that cytoplasmic Cx43 was distributed around the smooth muscle nucleus (arrows) and cytomembrane (arrowheads). Blue indicates the cell nucleus. (b) Optical density of Cx43 in each group. Data are expressed as mean±SD (n=6). * P<0.05 vs. the control group (Note: for interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article)
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