Effect of Yiqixue Recipe on Ovarian Growth Differentiation Factors Expression in Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation Mice

Objective To study the effect of Yiqixue Recipe,a Chinese prescription with the action of tonifying Qi and blood,on the expression of growth differentiation factor 9(GDF-9) and growth differentiation factor 9B(GDF-9B) in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) mice.Methods Kunming mice were given gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist(GnRH) and pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin(PMSG) for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.Mice in the Chinese medicine group were administrated intragastrically with Yiqixue Recipe(1.5mg/kg),and mice in the control group were given normal saline intragastrically.Ovarian tissues were collected at the ovulation stage after injection of human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG),and the expression and semi-quantitation of GDF-9 and GDF-9B were detected by immunohistochemical method.GDF-9 and GDF-9B mRNA content was measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Results GDF-9 was detectable in oocytes and granular cells by immunohistochemistry,and GDF-9B was detectable in granular cells but not in oocytes.The protein and mRNA levels of GDF-9 and GDF-9B were higher in Chinese herbal group than those in the control group(P0.05).Conclusion Yiqixue Recipe promotes the expression of ovarian GDF-9 and GDF-9B in COH mice,and its possible mechanism is related to promoting the development potentiality of oocytes,and thus promoting embryo implantation.