title: Receptivity assessment of an ultrasonographic homogeneous endometrium in the late follicular phase of infertile women with natural cycles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the receptivity of the homogeneous endometrium in the late follicular phase in infertile women with natural cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight infertile women with ultrasonographically homogeneous (group 1) or trilaminar (group 2) endometria in the late follicular phase underwent endometrial biopsies. Some molecular markers and development of pinopodes were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the late follicular phase, the mean level of vascular endothelial growth factor was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 (0.96 ± 0.37 marks vs 1.39 ± 0.46 marks; P = .010). In the mid luteal phase, a decreased leukemia inhibitory factor and integrin alpha v beta 3 levels were found in group 1 (1.58 ± 0.99 marks vs 2.59 ± 0.61 marks; 1.85 ± 0.72 marks vs 2.60 ± 0.73 marks; 1.92 ± 0.91 marks vs 2.83 ± 0.57 marks; P = .003; P = .011; P = .004). The rate of fully developed pinopodes in the mid luteal phase was significantly decreased in group 1 (P = .018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An ultrasonographically homogeneous endometrium in the late follicular phase was associated with poor receptivity in infertile women with natural cycles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health, Shen-Zhen City Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shen-Zhen, China. zhuwenjie542004@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Wenjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Mengxun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chunrong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Dayan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xuelian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood*; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008183:Luteal Phase; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014463:Ultrasonography; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A