title: Effects of mifepristone on expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in human endometrium during the implantation phase.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of the antiprogestin mifepristone on expression of endothelial (eNOS) nitric oxide synthase in human endometrium during the implantation phase.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Teaching university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endometrial samples were obtained from nine healthy women with proven fertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  One control and one treatment cycle were performed. Treatment with 200 mg of mifepristone was administered on LH day 2. Endometrial biopsy specimens were obtained on LH day 6 to 8.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of eNOS was identified by using immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay, and messenger RNA levels were determined with semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endothelial nitric oxide synthase was detected in vascular endothelium and glandular epithelium in the endometrium. Treatment with mifepristone significantly decreased eNOS expression in the endometrial glandular epithelium but did not affect endothelial eNOS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mifepristone has differential effects on eNOS expression in the epithelium and endothelium in the human endometrium at the time of implantation. The results support a role of epithelial eNOS in human endometrial receptivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman and Child Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Xiaoxi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gemzell-Danielsson
mesh_terms: D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D015735:Mifepristone; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III