Molsidomine and N-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester inhibit implantation and apoptosis in mouse endometrium.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possible effect of nitric oxide on receptivity and apoptosis of mouse endometrium and the possible pathway.


METHODS
Female pregnant mice were treated with either molsidomine, a generator of nitric oxide (NO), or N-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of NO synthase. The pregnancy rates of each group were calculated; 3'-end-labeling was used to detect DNA fragmention of apoptotic cells; immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and Western blot were applied respectively to estimate expression levels of Fas/FasL proteins and mRNA.


RESULTS
The pregnancy rate in the drug treated group was reduced in a dose-dependent manner; apoptosis, Fas protein and mRNA levels in the endometrium of drug treated mice were correlatively decreased during the peri-implantation period.


CONCLUSIONS
The decreased pregnant rate in mice by abnormal levels of nitric oxide may be brought about by inhibiting the normally occurrence of apoptosis in the receptive endometrium.
Wei
Peng
P
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China. liuyx@panda.ioz.ac.cn
Yuan
Jin-Xiang
JX
Jin
Xuan
X
Hu
Zhao-Yuan
ZY
Liu
Yi-Xun
YX
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008981:Molsidomine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008981:Molsidomine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester