Purpose. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Tiaojing Cuyun Recipe (TJCYR) on embryo implantation dysfunction- (EID-) induced damage of endometrial receptivity in mice and investigated the mechanisms underlying the effect. Methods. The main compounds of TJCYR were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). One hundred and twenty pregnant mice were randomly divided into six groups: control, EID only, progesterone (Prog)+EID, TJCYR-low-dose+EID, TJCYR-medium-dose+EID, and TJCYR-high-dose+EID. Mifepristone was injected to make the EID model. On the fourth day of pregnancy, serum was obtained to analyze hormone level by radioimmunoassay, the uterus was collected to analyze morphology by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a combination of immunofluorescence and Western blot was used to identify the related proteins. On the eighth day of pregnancy, the mice were sacrificed and the number of uterus-implanted blastocysts was counted. Results. Treatment with TJCYR significantly improved the number of implanted sites, the number of well-developed pinopodes, and microvascular formation in the mice. Moreover, TJCYR significantly activated PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathways to promote angiogenesis, resulting in significantly improved endometrial receptivity and fertility outcomes when compared to the model group. Conclusion. These findings demonstrate that TJCYR was able to protect embryo implantation of EID mice due to TJCYR-mediated improvement in endometrial receptivity by promoting endometrial angiogenesis.

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Metformin is introduced for treatment of women with PCOS, and the beneficial effects of exercise in women with PCOS are found for a range of outcomes. Our aim is to compare the effects of metformin plus exercise with exercise intervention in PCOS on clinical, anthropometric, metabolic, and psychological parameters. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched for studies. Nine studies were considered eligible for inclusion. The meta-analysis reveals that metformin offers additive benefits to exercise, leading to modest improvements in menstrual cycles, hyperandrogenism, and abdominal fat.

Backgroud: In our clinical practice, we found that Tiao Jing Cu Yun Recipe (TJCYR), which was composed of Dangshen, Danshen, Danggui, Huangqi, Shudihuang, Bajitian and Yinyanghuo, had obviously enhanced the rate of pregnancy in the women with infertility. Although the application effects are desirable and satisfactory, the therapeutic mechanism of TJCYR remains poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the effect of TJCYR on embryo implantation dysfunction (EID)-induced damage of endometrial receptivity in mice and investigated the mechanisms underlying the effect. Methods: Pregnant mice were randomly divided into six groups: Control, EID only, Progesterone (Prog)+EID, TJCYR-low-dose+EID , TJCYR-medium-dose+EID, TJCYR-high-dose+EID. Mifepristone was injected to make EID model. On the eighth day of pregnancy, the mice were sacrificed and the number of uterus-implanted blastocysts was counted. On the fourth day of pregnancy, the serum was to analyze the level of hormone by radioimmunoassay, the uterus was to analyze morphology by H&E and SEM, the combination of immunofluorescence and western blot were to identify the related proteins. Results: Compared with the EID group, the mice treated with high-dose TJCYR had a greater number of implanted sites, so we choose that dose of TJCYR as treatment in the following study. The mice treatment with TJCYR could significantly enhance the level of P 4 , and inhibite the decrease in the expression of PR that induced by EID. Compared with the EID only, the SEM showed that a marked increase in the number of well-developed pinopodes in the TJCYR treatment group. Except morphological marker, several molecules in relation to pinopodes that could be used as biomarkers. TJCYR abrogated the EID-induced weakened in those biomarkers. Additionally, the vascular density and VEGF were decreased in the EID group, it appeared severe tissue hypoxia, while TJCYR reversed that change. Compared with the control, the p-Akt and p-eNOS were decreased in EID group, accompanied with decline of NO. While TJCYR promoted the activation of Akt and eNOS, to improve the poor microvascular environment of endometrium. Conclusion: TJCYR has therapeutic potential against poor endometrial receptivity via activation of the PI3K/AKT/eNOS signaling pathway.