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Oral administration of Schisandra chinensis extract suppresses Dnmt1 expression in Kunming mice ovaries

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The plant Schisandra chinensis contains a phytoestrogens, a type of naturally occurring estrogens which have multiple functions in a number of biological processes. To investigate the correlation between phytoestrogens and epigenetic modification, especially the effect of phytoestrogens on DNA methylation, sexually healthy female mice were used as an animal model in the present study. Briefly, the total RNA and protein were isolated from the ovary of mice after 7-day oral administration of Schisandra chinensis extract (SCE), while distilled water was given to the animals in the control group. Real-time PCR, Western blotting, and enzyme activity assays were performed to examine the effect of the extract of S. chinensis on Dnmt1 transcription and activity. A promoter assay was further conducted in MCF cells (ER positive) to explore also the influence of SCE on Dnmt1 transcriptional activity. The results revealed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of mouse Dnmt1 were both significantly downregulated in the treated group. The transcription of Dnmt1 was suppressed by SCE and in the E2-added group also. Meanwhile the numbers of oocytes at different stages were increased in the treated group when compared by histological analyses with those in the control group. Taken together, the results indicated that, similarly to the action of estrogen, phytoestrogens affected Dnmt1 transcription in mammals, regulating the related gene expression and cell differentiation. The findings of our examination provided also basic data and understanding for the correlation between phytoestrogens and epigenetic modification.

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Abbreviations

Dnmt1:

DNA methyltransferase 1

SCE:

Extract of Schisandra chinensis

real-time PCR:

Real-time polymerase chain reaction

E2:

17β- estradiol

-h:

Hour

mg:

Milligram

kg:

Kilogram

µL:

Microlitre

mL:

Millilitre

min:

Minute

Ct:

Threshold cycle

Gapdh:

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

SE:

Standard error

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

SD:

Standard deviation

SDS-PAGE:

Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electropheresis

PVDF:

Polyvinylidene fluoride

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31372273, 31201789, 31501906), the Key Grant of the Key projects of the outstanding young talents in Colleges and Universities of Anhui Province (No. gxyqZD201619), the Major Project of Discipline Construction in Anhui Province and Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation (No. 1408085QC65).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Science and Food Engineering, Fuyang Teachers College, No. 100, Qinghe Rd, 236037, Fuyang, Anhui Province, People’s Republic of China

    Feng-Rui Wu, Deng-kun Li, Mi-mi Su, Yong Liu, Biao Ding, Rong Wang & Wen-yong Li

  2. Key Laboratory of Embryo Development and Reproductive Regulation, Fuyang, Anhui Province, People’s Republic of China

    Feng-Rui Wu, Deng-kun Li, Yong Liu, Biao Ding, Rong Wang & Wen-yong Li

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  1. Feng-Rui Wu
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  2. Deng-kun Li
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  4. Yong Liu
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  5. Biao Ding
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Correspondence to Feng-Rui Wu or Wen-yong Li.

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Research involving animal rights

All animal experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee in Fuyang Teachers College, Fuyang, China, and all animal experiments were conducted by using proper anesthesia before the realization of any procedures.

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The authors stated that have no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.

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Wu, FR., Li, Dk., Su, Mm. et al. Oral administration of Schisandra chinensis extract suppresses Dnmt1 expression in Kunming mice ovaries. Genes Genom 38, 1121–1128 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-016-0399-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-016-0399-1

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