Expression of glucosamine trisaccharides on the rat uterine surface is altered by clomiphene citrate. III. Relationship with implantation regimes and pregnancy.
The present study further elucidates the complex effects of a commonly-prescribed fertility drug upon a target organ in an animal model. In the human condition, its effects are rarely observed without the influence of endogenous ovarian hormones. The aim of the study was to investigate how the administration of a single dose of clomiphene citrate (CC) given prior to an implantation-priming sequence of ovarian hormones would affect the expression of surface oligosaccharides and membrane architecture of uterine epithelium. Ovariectomized rats were given a single dose of either 0.25 mg or 1.25 mg of CC prior to a hormone-priming regime of progesterone (P4) for 3 days with a single additional administration of oestradiol 17beta (E2) on day 3. Animals were killed 24 h after final treatment. Uterine tissue was labelled with the lectin Phytolacca americana conjugated with avidin, subsequently labelled with biotinylated ferritin and prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Results indicate that CC, when administered prior to the implantation hormone-priming regime, is able to act as a super oestrogen and upregulates expression of oligosaccharides on the plasma membrane surface and increases the density and length of microvilli on the surface of the cells when compared with other treatment regimes. Understanding of the effects of CC at the uterine level at the time of implantation enables manipulation of uterine receptivity to control fertility and to improve the outcome of assisted reproductive procedures.
Hosie
Margot
M
School of Anatomical Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa. hosiemj@anatomy.wits.ac.za
Terry
Vera
V
Murphy
Christopher
C
D000818:Animals; D001360:Avidin / Q000737:chemistry; D019921:Biotinylation; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D010053:Ovary / Q000473:pathology; D029603:Phytolacca; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014312:Trisaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014599:Uterus / Q000473:pathology*
D002241:Carbohydrates; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D004967:Estrogens; D037102:Lectins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D014312:Trisaccharides; D001360:Avidin; D002996:Clomiphene; D005944:Glucosamine