Models for the Study of Uterine Receptivity for Blastocyst Implantation

Abstract

A variety of models have been developed to study endometrial receptivity which involves normal, appropriately timed endometrial development and remodeling for blastocyst attachment and trophoblast invasion during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Due to species differences, the human is by far the best model per se by which to study human endometrial receptivity. Techniques have evolved to obtain in vivo data on endometrial receptivity using hysteroscopy, ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging. Despite species differences, comparative studies of mammalian models and tissue- and cell culture models using endometrial tissue or cells harvested at particular phases of the reproductive cycle, or following experimental manipulation, have been used productively to study endometrial function. Differences as well as similarities have proven to be instructive. Such models have been used to study a variety of entities, such as homotypic and heterotypic cell-cell interaction, the role of steroids, cytokines, growth factors, immunomodulatory agents and pharmacological substances. These models have also been used to study cellular, biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved with uterine receptivity. This chapter was designed to provide a critical review of contemporary literature relating to in vivo models and laboratory strategies and paradigms for the study of uterine receptivity for blastocyst implantation.

Effect of levonorgestrel and mifepristone on endometrial receptivity markers in a three-dimensional human endometrial cell culture model

“…A better understanding of endometrial receptivity, and endometrium-embryo interaction will be helpful to find possible answers to many clinically unresolved questions related to fertility and infertility. As in vivo experiments for understanding this complex process are limited because of ethical and practical reasons, various attempts have been made to design in vitro models to study human endometrial receptivity (1,2).…”

Demonstration of uterine receptivity in vitro by co-culture of rat epithelial cells and blastocyst

“…It also plays a pivotal role in exhibiting receptivity and refractivity to the implanting blastocyst (Denker 1990). The specialized functions of the UE cells to become receptive to the implantation of blastocysts are attributed to the attainment of their apico-basal polarity (Sharpe-Timms and Glasser 1999). This is based on the finding that the polarized UE cells impose certain physiological constraints on the implanting blastocyst, restraints that cannot be mimicked by the epithelial cells of the oviduct (Tutton and Carr 1984) or any extra-uterine site, such as the testis (Kirby 1963).…”