Biochemical evaluation of endometrial function at the time of implantation.
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature on various endometrial factors assumed to be of importance to implantation and to evaluate their potential clinical value in the assessment of endometrial function at the time of implantation in infertile women in natural and stimulated cycles.


METHODS
Literature review.


RESULTS
Cytokines such as leukemia inhibitory factor, colony-stimulating factor-1, and interleukin-1 have all been shown to play important roles in the cascade of events that leads to implantation. They participate in a synchronized cooperation between the endometrium and the preimplanting embryo under the influence of steroid hormones. The same applies to the integrin alpha(v)beta(3), glycodelin, and the polymorphic mucin 1. The usefulness of these factors to assess endometrial receptivity and to estimate the prognosis for pregnancy in natural and artificial cycles remains to be proven.


CONCLUSIONS
The studies performed to date have mostly included only small groups of patients with a lack of fertile controls, and only a few prospective, controlled trials have been carried out. Therefore, definite conclusions about the clinical value of these factors in the assessment of endometrial function and prognosis for pregnancy after artificial reproductive therapy cannot be drawn at present. Further evaluation of their importance for and function during implantation is needed.
Fertility Clinic, Juliane Marie Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. lindhard@rh.dk
Anette
A
Lindhard
Ursula
U
Bentin-Ley
Vibeke
V
Ravn
Henrik
H
Islin
Thomas
T
Hviid
Sven
S
Rex
Susanne
S
Bangsbøll
Steen
S
Sørensen
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000503:physiopathology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D053680:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000502:physiology; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood; D008598:Menstruation / Q000502:physiology; D023421:Models, Animal; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000502:physiology; D053606:Receptors, OSM-LIF
D016207:Cytokines; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; C507837:LIF protein, human; C507840:LIFR protein, human; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D053680:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit; D008222:Lymphokines; D018396:Mucin-1; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D053606:Receptors, OSM-LIF; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor