Immunohistochemical localization of beta1 and beta4 integrins in mouse endometrium during implantation and early pregnancy.
Implantation presents the remarkable synchronisation between the development of embryo and differentiation of endometrium. Cell-cell adhesion is an important phenomenon taking place during blastocyst implantation in uterine membrane. We think that the investigation of existence and the level of integrins in women can be a guide for treatment of infertility. Our purpose in this study was to show expression beta1 and beta4 integrins on gestational days 4, 6, 12 by immunohistochemical methods and to investigate whether beta4 integrin is a useful marker for receptivity. beta1 and beta4 integrin were exhibited on surface epithelium on gestational day 4. On the other hand, strong beta4 immunoreactivity was detected on surface epithelium and glandular cells on gestational day 12 but no beta1 reactivity was present in the surface epithelium and glandular cells on day 12. In conclusion, both beta1 and beta4 integrins may have a role in implantation process because positive immunoreactivity was seen on apical membrane of surface epithelium on day 4 when implantation occurred. The localization to apical pole of surface epithelium suggest a role for beta1, beta4 integrins in initial embryo and endometrium interaction. It does not seem that beta1 integrin has a role supporting pregnancy since expression of beta4 on surface epithelium and glandular epithelium disappeared on day 12. beta4 integrin expression increasing on day 12 of pregnancy leads us to think a possible functional role supporting pregnancy.
Abban
G
G
Department of Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. gabban@pamukkale.edu.tr
Erdogan
D
D
Ozogul
C
C
Take
G
G
Yildirim
N B
NB
D000818:Animals; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000032:analysis*; D039663:Integrin beta4 / Q000032:analysis*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
D019012:Integrin beta1; D039663:Integrin beta4