Endometrial integrin expression in the early luteal phase in natural and stimulated cycles for in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of ovarian stimulation on integrin expression in the early luteal phase.


METHODS
Seven endometrial biopsies were taken 2 days after the oocyte retrieval from stimulated cycles for IVF and 23 from natural cycles, 2 days after ovulation.


RESULTS
Endometrium was in-phase in 22/23 and 7/7 biopsies from the natural and stimulated cycles, respectively. Integrins alpha(1) and alpha(4) were simultaneously positive in 43.4% from the natural and in all (100%) the stimulated cycles (P<0.03). On the day of the endometrial biopsy, progesterone serum values were higher in the stimulated cycles (55.2+/-9.5 microg/l versus 8.5+/-3.8 microg/l) (P<0.001). HSCORE value was significantly higher in stimulated cycles for both integrins.


CONCLUSIONS
Endometrial integrin expression is more consistently present in the early luteal phase in stimulated cycles than in natural cycles and this may be related to the higher serum progesterone concentration and/or the more advanced endometrial histological features.
Tavaniotou
Asimina
A
Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Dutch-Speaking Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium. mtavaniotou@hotmail.com
Bourgain
Claire
C
Albano
Carola
C
Platteau
Peter
P
Smitz
Johan
J
Devroey
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D039423:Integrin alpha1 / Q000032:analysis; D039441:Integrin alpha4 / Q000032:analysis; D016023:Integrins / Q000032:analysis*; D008183:Luteal Phase; D009865:Oocytes; D010060:Ovulation; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting
D039423:Integrin alpha1; D016023:Integrins; D039441:Integrin alpha4; D011374:Progesterone