Abstract
Objective: To observe the effects of kidney tonifying and liver soothing methods on the secretion of factor BMP-6, related receptors ALK-2/6, and downstream Smads pathway Smad1/5/844 in oocytes, and to explore the targeted mechanisms of their effects on mouse oocyte quality; Method: Healthy female mice aged 6-7 weeks were randomly divided into 6 groups, namely high and low dose kidney tonifying groups; High – and low-dose liver soothing groups; Control group and normal group. The high-dose and low-dose groups of tonifying the kidney were given oral solution of tonifying the kidney and regulating the meridian at 5.4g/ml and 2.7g/ml, respectively. The high-dose and low-dose groups of soothing the liver were given suspension of Xiaoyao Pill at 0.6g/ml and 0.3g/ml, respectively. The control group and normal group were given distilled water by gavage. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of BMP-6, ALK-2/6, and Smad1/5/8/4 proteins in oocytes, while PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of these indicators in oocytes; Result: Both methods can increase the expression of BMP-6 in oocytes of mice in the treatment group, activate ALK-2/6, and phosphorylate Smad1/5/8 to bind with Smad4, initiating signal transduction; The high-dose group of kidney tonifying is superior to other groups in regulating BMP-6, ALK-2/6, and Smad1/5/4. Conclusion: Kidney tonifying and liver soothing methods can regulate BMP-6 and its Smads pathway through different mechanisms to improve mouse oocyte quality.
Competing Interest Statement
The author declares that they have no competing interests, and all authors should confirm their accuracy