A new method to study the process of implantation of a human blastocyst in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a "miniorgan" culture of human endometrium dated according to the LH peak in order to study the process of implantation of a human blastocyst in vitro.


METHODS
Preliminary results of a more extensive study with the same objectives.


METHODS
Hospital-based unit of reproductive health and university-related reproductive research laboratories.


METHODS
Six apparently healthy women with normal regular menstrual cycles providing endometrial material 4, 5 and 6 days after the LH peak.


METHODS
One part of the biopsy was used for histologic dating. The other part was incubated in culture medium RPMI-1640 and exposed to the contact with one to three embryos fertilized in vitro.


METHODS
Biopsy material before and after incubation was studied by morphometric methods in a light microscope. The histologic changes were recorded by photomicrographs.


RESULTS
Implantation of an embryo obtained 4 days after IVF penetrated the lining endometrial epithelium of a biopsy obtained 4 days after the LH peak and kept in vitro for 24 hours. The embryo was placed on the lining epithelium of the endometrium within 3 hours after the biopsy was taken.


CONCLUSIONS
A new method to study the process of implantation of a human embryo in vitro has been described, allowing the embryo to penetrate the lining endometrial epithelium in a biopsy obtained at LH +4/+5.
Landgren
B M
BM
Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Johannisson
E
E
Stavreus-Evers
A
A
Hamberger
L
L
Eriksson
H
H
D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004717:Endometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy
D007986:Luteinizing Hormone