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Frontiers of Agriculture in China

ISSN 1673-7334

ISSN 1673-744X(Online)

CN 11-5729/S

Front. Agric. China    2007, Vol. 1 Issue (1) : 96-100    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11703-007-0018-7
Research article
Influence of Radix scutellariae on Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in RU486-induced abortion in mice
Xiuhui ZHONG1(),Wanyu SHI1,Aituan MA1,Xiaodan WANG1,Jianlou ZHANG1,Xuezhong LI2
1. Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding 071001, China
2. Baoding Animal Science Bureau, Baoding 071051, China
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Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the significance of Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in the uterus in the early embryo loss (or resorption), and to elucidate immunological modulation at the maternal-fetal interface with Chinese herbal medicine Radix scutellariae (Huang Qin) and its constituents (Baicalin and Baicalein). Mifepristone (RU486) was given via subcutaneous injection in the scapular area to induce abortion in mice at day 7 of gestation. The levels of uterine Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The mean values of Th1 cytokines in the uterus of RU486-treated abortion mice were significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the control mice, but no significant difference was observed regarding to the contents of Th2 cytokines of different groups (P>0.05). However, when the Radix scutellariae and its constituents were used to prevent RU486-induced abortion, the levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 decreased while that of IL-4 and IL-10 increased. The embryo loss induced by RU486 was closely related to the Th1/Th2 immune balance at the maternal-fetal interface. Radix scutellariae and its constituents have an anti-abortive effect through restoring the Th1/Th2 balance at the maternal-fetal interface.

Keywords Radix scutellariae      Mifepristone      abortion      Th1/Th2      Baicalin      Baicalein     
Issue Date: 22 February 2016
 Cite this article:   
Xiuhui ZHONG,Wanyu SHI,Aituan MA, et al. Influence of Radix scutellariae on Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in RU486-induced abortion in mice[J]. Front. Agric. China, 2007, 1(1): 96-100.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fag/EN/10.1007/s11703-007-0018-7
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fag/EN/Y2007/V1/I1/96
Group Medicine i.g. (G 4-7) Medicine s.c. (G 7) Abortion rate/% Fetal resorption/%
A Distilled water Distilled water 33.3 (3/10)B 7.1 (2/28) B
B RU486 80.0 (8/10) A 85.7 (30/35) A
C Baicalin RU486 33.3 (3/10) B 29.4 (5/17) B
D Baicalein RU486 37.5 (3/8) B 33.3 (7/21) B
E Herbal decoction RU486 40.0 (4/10) B 31.6 (6/19) B
Table 1  Anti-Abortive effects of Radix scutellariae and its constituents Baicalin and Baicalein on RU486-treated mice
Group IFN-γ IL-2 IL-4 IL-10
A 19.409±6.106bde 288.453±117.027b 241.958±55.666e 9.154±11.540e
B 24.424±5.920acde 378.849±92.509acde 196.208±46.421cde 4.276±5.073cdE
C 20.212±8.033b 307.344±28.282b 298.986±72.207b 12.082±4.337be
D 22.109±16.392ab 320.748±27.639b 321.458±58.408b 12.864±4.826be
E 22.136±16.392ab 313.757±44.939b 365.236±94.587ab 22.377±14.480aBcd
Table 2  Changes in Th1/Th2 cytokines in different groups
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