Role of an estrogen-upregulated 64.0-kDa uterine fluid glycoprotein in improving fertility in women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the significance of an estrogen-upregulated 64.0-kDa human uterine fluid (hUF) glycoprotein in relation to promotion of fertility.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Department of Assisted Reproductive Biology Unit, Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Kolkata. India.


METHODS
Sixty-three women with unexplained infertility having normal ovulatory cycle with normal endocrine profile and 18 parous women.


METHODS
Women either received no stimulation (n = 35) or were stimulated with clomiphene citrate (CC) alone (100 mg/day from day 3 to day 7; n = 56) or in combination with pure FSH (75 IU on day 3 and day 8; n = 54) and were subjected to IUI. Parous women (n = 18) receiving no treatment served as control and were followed-up for spontaneous ovulation.


METHODS
Uterine fluid protein profile, relative intensity of 64.0-kDa protein, number of mature follicles, endometrial thickness, and pregnancy.


RESULTS
Expression of the 64.0-kDa protein exhibited positive correlation with prevailing estradiol levels, but the degree of the protein response to estrogen was comparatively blunted in the CC-incorporated cycles. Endometrial thickness and pregnancy outcomes correlated positively with the expression of the protein.


CONCLUSIONS
The 64.0-kDa hUF protein perhaps plays a role in endometrial receptivity to support pregnancy. Failure of pregnancy despite documented ovulation in CC-stimulated cycles may be due to its attenuating effects on expression of the protein.
Das
Tuhin
T
Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Kolkata, India.
Chattopadhyay
Ratna
R
Ghosh
Sanghamitra
S
Goswami
Sourendrakanta
S
Chattopadhyay
Dhrubajyoti
D
Chakravarty
Baidyanath
B
Kabir
Syed Nazrul
SN
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015843:Serpins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
D015415:Biomarkers; D004967:Estrogens; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015843:Serpins; C029708:uterine luminal fluid proteins