Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
3971514 Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2010 11 Pages PDF
Abstract

The osteopontin: αvβ3 integrin complex has been proposed as a means of distinguishing receptive from non-receptive endometrium in clinical practice, thus offering new directions for the development of contraceptive approaches targeted to the endometrium as well as a better understanding of occult causes of infertility in women. Histological dating and immunohistochemical study were performed in control and study cycles in seven groups of women including 10 subjects per group and who received clomiphene citrate, ovarian stimulation for IVF, oral contraception, dehydrogesterone for endometrial luteal phase defect, two different regimens of hormone replacement therapy, or no treatment. Ten healthy fertile women served as a general control group. Osteopontin and αvβ3 integrin expression in the human endometrium was closely related to endometrial maturation and this was irrespective of the endometrium being in-phase or out-of-phase and the hormonal treatment (or no treatment) received. In conclusion, immunohistochemical assessment of the endometrium indicates that the use of osteopontin and αvβ3 integrin or the osteopontin: αvβ3 integrin complex as targets for the development of contraceptive approaches or the understanding of the pathogenesis of female infertility offer little benefit compared with simple histological dating.

Related Topics
Health Sciences Medicine and Dentistry Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health
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