title: Endometrial integrin expression in the early luteal phase in natural and stimulated cycles for in vitro fertilization.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Dutch-Speaking Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium. mtavaniotou@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Asimina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavaniotou
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bourgain
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Platteau
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smitz
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Devroey
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D039423:Integrin alpha1; D016023:Integrins; D039441:Integrin alpha4; D011374:Progesterone