Abstract

To investigate the significance of transforming growth factor b1(TGF-b1) in the uterus in early embryo loss (or resorption) and to elucidate the anti-abortive effect and the immunological modulation at the maternal-fetal interaction of quercetin (Que). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (0.10 μg/mouse) was injected via the tail vein in order to induce abortion in 7-day-gestation mice which also received quercetin at days 1 to 7 of gestation. Uterine TGF-b1 of each group (n=10) was detected by in situ hybridization. The amount of TGF-b1 in the uterus of LPS-induced abortion mice was much lower (P<0.01) than that of the control mice. When quercetin was used to prevent LPS-induced abortion, more TGF-b1mRNA was counted. The effect of high concentration quercetin on LPS-induced abortion was more significant, and the rate of TGF-b1mRNA was increased to 13.52±0.58, significantly higher than that of LPS-abortion group (P<0.01). The change of TGF-b1mRNA in the mouse’ uterus could be associated with the embryo loss, and quercetin exerts an anti-abortive effect through the modulation of the immune balance at the maternal-fetal interface.

Key words: Embryo resorption, transforming growth factor-b1, lipopolysaccharide, quercetin, in situ hybridization.