Infertile women with isolated polycystic ovaries are deficient in endometrial expression of osteopontin but not alphavbeta3 integrin during the implantation window.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize possible endometrial defects in infertile women with isolated PCO morphology.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
An academic hospital with an IVF unit.


METHODS
Women with primary unexplained infertility and isolated PCO, fertile women, and women with infertility secondary to male factor.


METHODS
Thirty-one women (fertile and with male factor infertility) had endometrial sampling across the menstrual cycle. Nine fertile women and 10 infertile women with isolated PCO had sampling on day LH +7, adjusted for histologic dating.


METHODS
Expression of alphavbeta3 and its ligand, osteopontin, were determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. In vitro regulation of osteopontin was assessed using the Ishikawa cell line.


RESULTS
Cyclic variations revealed a fall in integrin alphavbeta3 mRNA during the secretory phase with concomitant up-regulation of osteopontin mRNA. Immunohistochemistry on day LH +7 demonstrated a significant reduction in expression of osteopontin in the isolated PCO group with no difference in expression of alphavbeta3. In vitro studies confirmed up-regulation of osteopontin by estrogen with no apparent effect of androgen.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate an apparent reduction of osteopontin expression, important in cell-cell adhesion, during the window of implantation in infertile women with isolated PCO morphology.
DuQuesnay
Renée
R
Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Wright
Corrina
C
Aziz
Anita Abdul
AA
Stamp
Gordon W H
GW
Trew
Geoffrey H
GH
Margara
Raul A
RA
White
John O
JO
D000328:Adult; D002460:Cell Line; D015536:Down-Regulation; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D015741:Metribolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D045165:Testosterone Congeners / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C506895:SPP1 protein, human; D045165:Testosterone Congeners; D053495:Osteopontin; D015741:Metribolone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol