Estrogen and progesterone receptors of the out-of-phase endometrium in female infertile patients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the role of steroid hormone receptor compartmentalization in infertile women with "in-phase" or "out-of-phase" endometrium.


METHODS
Nonrandomized prospective clinical study.


METHODS
A university clinic.


METHODS
Twenty-nine infertile patients without evidence of endometriosis, tubal factor, male factor, galactorrhea, or hyperandrogenism were enrolled. Sixteen patients had in-phase endometrium and a P level > or = 10 ng/mL (conversion factor to SI unit, 3.18) (group A). Four patients had out-of-phase endometrium and a P level > 10 ng/mL (group B). Four patients had in-phase endometrium and a P level < 10 ng/mL (group C), and five patients had out-of-phase endometrium and a P level < 10 ng/mL (group D).


METHODS
Each patient underwent determination of serum P and endometrial sampling on postovulatory days 6 to 9 based on serum LH measurement. Dating according to endometrial histology and biochemical assessment of estrogen receptor (ER) and P receptor (PR) were performed on each sample.


RESULTS
The level of cytosol ER was significantly lower in out-of-phase endometrium regardless of serum P level. There were no significant differences in the levels of cytosol PR and nuclear ER and PR among groups. In a long-term follow-up study, 6 of 29 patients became pregnant. The cytosol ER:PR ratio in these patients was found to fit a single straight regression line (y = 0.34x - 2.2).


CONCLUSIONS
Out-of-phase endometrium probably depends on inadequate cytosol ER. An appropriate cytosol ER:PR ratio may be important to become pregnant.
Hirama
Y
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Ochiai
K
K
D000328:Adult; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000378:metabolism*; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone