Objective  To explore the influence for combination of Dingkun Dan with estradiol valerateon in treating rats with thin endometrium with Kidney-Yang deficiency based on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

  Methods  The estrous period 40 rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, the Dingkun Dan group, the estradiol valerateon group and the combination group, with 8 rats in each group. In addition to the normal control group, the rat model of thin endometrium with Kidney-Yang deficiency was established in other groups. The control group used free diet, the model group was given distilled water, the estradiol valerateon group was treated with progynova by gavage at 0.3 mg/(kg·d) , Dingkun Dan group was treated with Dingkun Dan by gavage at 2.26 g/(kg·d), and the combined group was given Dingkun Dan at 2.26 g/(kg·d) on the basis of progynova at 0.3 mg/(kg·d). After 3 estrous cycles, the rats were killed and harvested. HE staining was used to observe histopathologic changes in endometrium. The expression of VEGF in rats endometrium were detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of β-catenin, E-cadherin and MMP-9 protein in rat endometrium was detected by Western blot.

  Results  Compared with the control group, the uterine cavity was narrowed or enlarged, the endometrium glands and blood vessels were sparse, and the endometrium was thinner significantly in the model group (P<0.01); the levels of VEGF was decreased significantly (P<0.01), while β-catenin, E-cadherin and MMP-9 were increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, more endometrial glands, rich intimal vessels, the endometrium were thickened significantly in the 3 treatment groups (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the levels of VEGF was increased differently. The protein levels of β-catenin and E-cadherin were significantly decreased in each treatment group (P<0.01), and MMP-9 were significantly decreased in the Dingkun Dan group and in the combination group (P<0.01). Compared with the estradiol valerateon group, the level of β-catenin in Dingkun Dan group was higher, and MMP-9 was lower (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The levels of β-catenin and MMP-9 in the combination group were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the combination group, the levels of β-catenin was increased significantly, while decreased signicantly in Dingkun Dan group (P<0.01 or P<0.05).

  Conclusion  Dingkun Dan combined with estradiol valerateon can increase the thicken of the endometrium by up-regulation of VEGF, while down-regulate of β-catenin, E-cadherin and MMP-9 in rats with Shen-Yang deficiency and thin endometrium.