Effect of Rat Medicated Serum Containing Zuo Gui Wan and/or You Gui Wan on the Differentiation of Stem Cells Derived from Human First Trimester Umbilical Cord into Oocyte-Like Cells In Vitro
Authors: Yan-Li Deng
Hua Lu
Xiang Hu
Qian Wan
Shang-Mian Yie
Journal: Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2015)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Zuo Gui Wan; You Gui Wan; infertility; traditional Chinese medicine; germ cell formation
Affiliations: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Medical College/Teaching Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Remin Nanlu Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China

Abstract:  Zuo Gui Wan (ZGW) and You Gui Wan (YGW) are two classic formulas used in clinical treatment of infertility in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, the actions of the formulas remain to be proven at the cellular and molecular levels. In this study, we investigate whether the two formulas have any effect on germ cell formation and differentiation by culturing rat medicated serums containing YGW or ZGW with stem cells derived from human first trimester umbilical cord. Our results showed that while the normal rat serums had no significant effects, the rat medicated serums had significant effects on the differentiation of the stem cells into oocyte-like cells (OLCs) based on (1) cell morphological changes that resembled purative cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs); (2) expressions of specific markers that were indicative of germ cell formation and oocyte development; and (3) estradiol production by the COC-like cells. Furthermore, ZGW medicated serums exhibited more obvious effects on specific gene expressions of germ cells, whereas YGW medicated serums showed stronger effects on estradiol production. Accordingly, our study provides evidence demonstrating for the first time that one of molecular and cellular actions of YGW or ZGW in treating human reproductive dysfunctions may be through an enhancement of neooogenesis. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 2(a) and 2(b) appear to include a repeated image. It is not clear that this is intentional as the caption describes the samples as if they have already been treated differently. Most likely does not affect the conclusions of this paper. ***  , 
 Figure 3 may also include a repeated image. Marked with cyan boxes. ***  , 
 The western blots in Figure 5c are concerning if intended to be representative of an experiment. Boxes indicate areas with probable evidence of repetition, arrows indicate splices (yellow) or repeated features for identification. I note that I missed marking on smear with a magenta arrow. 5d appears to have some similar issues, but perhaps the authors will acknowledge these concerns without requiring further documentation. *** Image shown inverted  , 
 Published 31 Oct 2020 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine has retracted the article titled u201cEffect of Rat Medicated Serum Containing Zuo Gui Wan and or You Gui Wan on the Differentiation of Stem Cells Derived from Human First Trimester Umbilical Cord into Oocyte-Like Cells In Vitrou201d [1], due to indications of image manipulation and duplication as raised on PubPeer [2]. The western blots in Figure 5 show signs of duplication and other manipulation. In Figure 2, the 0 day panel in (a) was duplicated in the 0 day panel in (b). The authors provided a corrected image for the 0 day panel for 2(b) and provided high-resolution images showing no duplication in Figure 3(b) in the DAPI panels (see the supplementary materials). However, the original images for the western blots in Figure 5 were not available. ,