Abstract
IMC has been reported to influence embryo implantation negatively in animals including rats. While EBN has been known to have a potential protective effect against reproductive toxicity, there is limited study on the effect of EBN on IMC toxicity in reproduction. This study aimed to ascertain whether pretreatment with a natural substance, Edible Bird's Nest (EBN), will reduce IMC-induced toxicity in pregnant rats. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats divided into five equal groups were treated with EBN and IMC as follows: G1 = Control, G2 = IMC (4.33 mg/kg), G3 = IMC + EBN (4.33 mg/kg + 60 mg/kg), G4 = IMC + EBN (4.33 mg/kg + 90 mg/kg), and G5 = IMC + EBN (4.33 mg/kg +120 mg/kg). EBN was administered once daily for 8 weeks while IMC was injected subcutaneously. On day 8 after mating, all rats were sacrificed for blood sampling and embryo implantation rate (EIR) assessment; the uterine tissues were also subjected to immunohistochemical and histological analyses. G5 recorded significantly higher EIR, fertility index, and expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the uterine section, across stroma cells, the glandular epithelium, and the luminal epithelium compared to control and other groups. IMC-induced inflammatory alterations, endometrial atrophy, vacuolar degeneration, and atrophy were not detected in uterine tissue sections in G4 and G5, with the latter group demonstrating the highest EIR with protective effects on uterine tissues. Thus, EBN supplementation might be of great benefit in guarding the fertility of individuals who depend on IMC for the treatment of chronic inflammatory illness.