Immunohistochemical expression of endometrial L-selectin ligand is higher in donor egg recipients with embryonic implantation.
OBJECTIVE
To correlate L-selectin ligand (LSL) expression in human endometrium with embryonic implantation.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort analysis.


METHODS
University-based fertility center.


METHODS
Donor egg recipients (DERs) who underwent programmed hormonal replacement for ET with prior mock cycle luteal phase endometrial biopsy.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical expression of LSL using MECA-79 antibody was examined. Slides were scored with a new scoring system, the IHC-Level (range 0-4) as follows: strength of staining-absent (0), weak (1), or strong (2); plus distribution of staining-absent (0), <50% of tissue (1), and >50% (2). Cellular apex and cytoplasm were scored independently in both the endometrial glandular and surface epithelium.


METHODS
Endometrial LSL expression in pregnant versus nonpregnant patients.


RESULTS
MECA-79 IHC-Level of the apex of surface epithelium was significantly higher for pregnant versus nonpregnant DERs (3.8 vs. 3.4). When controlling for embryo morphology, there continues to be a significant difference in apex score on surface epithelium (3.8 vs. 3.3, respectively). The new scoring system results correlated with an established scoring system, the HSCORE.


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrate significantly higher expression of LSL at the apex of human endometrial surface epithelium obtained from DERs with embryonic implantation. Furthermore, we present the IHC-Level, a method of evaluating immunohistochemistry that may be applied to other markers of endometrial receptivity.
Shamonki
Mousa I
MI
The Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, USA. fertmd@yahoo.com
Kligman
Isaac
I
Shamonki
Jaime M
JM
Schattman
Glenn L
GL
Hyjek
Elizabeth
E
Spandorfer
Steven D
SD
Zaninovic
Nikica
N
Rosenwaks
Zev
Z
D000328:Adult; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors
D000954:Antigens, Surface; C069886:L-selectin counter-receptors; D008565:Membrane Proteins