Rabbit endosalpinx inhibits implantation in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the ability of rabbit endometrial or endosalpingeal cells to support implantation in vitro and to assess the effects of endosalpinx and endometrium-conditioned media (CM) on blastocyst-endometrial cell interaction.


METHODS
In one experiment, rabbit blastocysts were co-cultured in vitro with endometrial or endosalpingeal cells growing on Matrigel-coated plastic culture plates or Millicell-HA inserts. In a second experiment, rabbit blastocysts were co-cultured with endometrial cells in the presence of fresh medium or of endosalpinx- or endometrial-CM. After 48 or 72 hours attachment to the cell monolayer was evaluated.


RESULTS
Blastocysts in co-culture attached to endometrial but not to endosalpingeal monolayers. The addition of CM from cultured endosalpinx significantly decreased embryo attachment to endometrial cells in culture.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings in vitro agree with the observation that rabbit endosalpinx in vivo does not support embryo implantation and support the hypothesis that rabbit endosalpinx secretes a factor that prevent tubal implantation.
Moore
G D
GD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7836.
Eddy
C A
CA
Pauerstein
C J
CJ
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology*