Manipulation of the follicular phase: Uterodomes and pregnancy - is there a correlation?

Gayer, Nalini; Terry, Vera; Murphy, Christopher R.

doi:10.1186/1471-2393-1-2

Cited by 28 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 56 publications

(75 reference statements)

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“…Originally termed 'pinopods' from studies in rats which established a pinocytotic function for them in this species [43], large, rounded, smooth-surfaced projections of the apical plasma membrane have been identified in the uterine epithelium of many species during early pregnancy ranging from rabbits and rodents through camels to human beings [44,45]. Because such smooth-surfaced projections occur during the receptive phase for blastocyst implantation in humans, these enigmatic structures have been the subject of many studies in humans which establish their utility as important indicators of normal endocrine progression as well as indicators of uterine receptivity for blastocyst implantation [45][46][47][48][49][50]96].…”

Section: Uterodomes ('Pinopodes')-features Of the Apical Plasma Membrmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Uterine receptivity and the plasma membrane transformation

2004

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This review begins with a brief commentary on the diversity of placentation mechanisms, and then goes on to examine the extensive alterations which occur in the plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells during early pregnancy across species. Ultrastructural, biochemical and more general morphological data reveal that strikingly common phenomena occur in this plasma membrane during early pregnancy despite the diversity of placental types-from epitheliochorial to hemochorial, which ultimately form in different species. To encapsulate the concept that common morphological and molecular alterations occur across species, that they are found basolaterally as well as apically, and that moreover they are an ongoing process during much of early pregnancy, not just an event at the time attachment, the term 'plasma membrane transformation' is suggested which also emphasises that alterations in this plasma membrane during early pregnancy are key to uterine receptivity. INTRODUCTIONContact between the plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells and that of the trophoblast is a common beginning to implantation in most species studied so far. This is perhaps not surprising since uterine epithelial cells are the first site of contact between maternal and foetal tissue at the beginning of blastocyst attachment and implantation. The similarities in these early events of the uterine response during early pregnancy and placentation however, go further than mere contact between opposing surfaces. A now considerable body of evidence indicates that the behaviour of the plasma membrane of the uterine epithelial cells during early pregnancy has many common aspects across species ranging from viviparous lizards to human beings and that moreover, these similarities exist regardless of the placental type which ultimately develops. This review pays special attention to events at the cellular level in uterine epithelial cells and to the plasma membrane in particular, but does so within the wider context of uterine receptivity for implantation across species.

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Section: Uterodomes ('Pinopodes')-features Of the Apical Plasma Membrmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the undoubted utility of these structures in clinical medicine and indeed in clinical decision-making [48][49][50]96], the human 'pinopodes' do not have a significant pinocytotic function [95] and it has been suggested that the human structures be referred to as 'uterodomes' [45].…”

Section: Uterodomes ('Pinopodes')-features Of the Apical Plasma Membrmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uterine receptivity and the plasma membrane transformation

2004

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“…Later, galectin-9 was identified as a new endometrial epithelial marker for the mid-and late-secretory and decidual phases in human endometrium, in which galectin mRNA was shown to be exclusively expressed in the endometrial epithelial cells but not in stromal or immune cells [14]. Uterodomes are considered as the biological marker of uterine receptivity in vivo [15][16] and the preferred site of embryo-endometrial interactions in vitro [17]. Furthermore, uterodomes are the initial sites that contact with the floating blastocyst and play an important role in accumulation and secretion of biomolecules to the uterine cavity during the initial phase of pregnancy [18].…”

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confidence: 99%

Expression and Localization of Galectin-9 in the Human Uterodome

et al. 2008

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Abstract. Galectin-9 has been recently considered as a novel marker for the mid-and late-secretory phases of human endometrium and decidua. The aim of this study was to investigate the subcellular distribution of galectin-9 in the endometrial epithelium, especially during the frame of the implantation window. Endometrial biopsies in the proliferative, early, and mid-secretory phases from women with regular menstrual cycle were studied using several approaches, including scanning electron microscopy, immunostaining for light and transmission electron microscopies (TEM), immunoblotting, and statistical analysis of the area-related numerical densities of galectin-9-bound nanogold. Images of immunostaining for light microscopy demonstrated a strong expression of galectin-9 at the luminal and glandular endometrial epithelium in the mid-secretory phase compared to the proliferative and early secretory phases. Data of immunoblotting revealed a molecular weight of 36 kDa band with high intensity in the mid-secretory samples. Photomicrographs of immunogold staining for TEM illustrated the localization of galectin-9 in the uterodomes. Statistical and morphometric analysis showed a significantly higher area-related numerical density of galectin-9-bound nano-golds in the uterodomes compared to that of the uterodome-free areas of the luminal epithelium (p<0.001). This is the first demonstration of the molecular localization of galectin-9 in the bulbous ultrastructure of the human endometrial epithelium, called uterodomes. High expression of galectin-9 at uterodomes during the frame of implantation window suggests that galectin-9 can be considered as a marker of endometrial receptivity and should play an important role during the initial events of human embryo implantation.

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“…103 In case of rats, in comparison, displacement of pinopod development by ormeloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, was not associated with corresponding displacement of receptivity. 92 By manipulation of follicular phase in women participating in an IVF programme, using shorter (7 days) and longer (14 days) sequential doses of exogenous estradiol followed by progesterone administration and comparison of the secretory uterine epithelium with the morphology of their normal cycles with the aid of SEM, Adams et al 83 have demonstrated that while short estradiol treatment did not alter the timed epithelial sequence apparent in an individual's natural cycle, longer estradiol treatment retarded uterodome appearance. It has also been proposed that in patients showing poor epithelial morphology in natural cycles, exogenous estradiol and progesterone supplementation might increase the abundance of pinopods, which has been correlated to improved pregnancy rates.…”

Section: Microarchitecturementioning

confidence: 98%

“…78,79 This membrane transformation and the function of these protrusions have aroused particular interest for possible use as biological markers of uterine receptivity in IVF settings. [80][81][82][83] The first observations of apical surface protrusions on uterine luminal epithelial cells were made in mice 84 and rats. 85 It was, however, Nilsson 86 who provided the first extensive discussion and illustration of apical projections, which he simply referred to as cytoplasmic protrusions and blebs with an apocrine function.…”

Section: Microarchitecturementioning

confidence: 99%

Endometrial receptivity: Clinical assessment in relation to fertility, infertility, and antifertility

Makker

Singh

2006

Med. Res. Rev.

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Fertility in humans and other mammalian species depends absolutely on synchronous events that render the developing blastocyst and the receiving uterus competent for implantation. Endometrial receptivity is defined as the period during which the endometrial epithelium acquires functional, but transient, ovarian steroid-dependent status supportive to blastocyst acceptance and implantation. Once inside the uterus, the blastocyst is surrounded by an intact luminal epithelium, which is considered to act as barrier to its attachment, except for this short period of high endometrial receptivity to blastocyst signal(s). Its transport and permeability properties, in conjunction with cellular action of the endometrium and the embryo, have been suggested to influence creation and maintenance of informational and nutritional status of uterine luminal milieu. This period, also termed as the 'window of implantation,' is limited to days 20-24 of menstrual cycle in humans. However, establishment of endometrial receptivity is still a biological mystery that remains unsolved despite marked advances in our understanding of endometrial physiology following extensive research associated with its development and function. This review deals with various structural, biochemical, and molecular events in the endometrium coordinated within the implantation window that constitute essential elements in the repertoire that signifies endometrial receptivity and is aimed to achieve a better understanding of its relationship to fertility, infertility, and for the development of targeted antifertility agents for human use and welfare.

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Manipulation of the follicular phase: Uterodomes and pregnancy - is there a correlation?

Cited by 28 publications

References 56 publications

Uterine receptivity and the plasma membrane transformation

Uterine receptivity and the plasma membrane transformation

Expression and Localization of Galectin-9 in the Human Uterodome

Endometrial receptivity: Clinical assessment in relation to fertility, infertility, and antifertility

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