Non-human primate models: artificial menstrual cycles, endometrial matrix metalloproteinases and s.c. endometrial grafts

Endometrial angiogenesis throughout the human menstrual cycle.

BACKGROUND The timing and mechanisms of new blood vessel formation in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle are still largely unknown. In the present study we used the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as an in-vivo assay for angiogenesis to assess the angiogenic potential of endometrium obtained at different stages of the menstrual cycle. METHODS Endometrial fragments were exp...

Menstrual-like breakdown and apoptosis in human endometrial explants.

BACKGROUND Apoptosis occurs in late secretory and menstrual human endometrium and is thought to play an important role in endometrial physiology. Menstrual-like breakdown has been observed in vitro in endometrial explants. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of apoptosis in menstrual-like breakdown in human endometrial explants. METHODS Human endometrial tissue was obtained durin...

Biological characteristics of human menstrual blood‐derived endometrial stem cells

Successful isolation of human endometrial stem cells from menstrual blood, namely menstrual blood-derived endometrial stem cells (MenSCs), has provided enticing alternative seed cells for stem cell-based therapy. MenSCs are enriched in the self-regenerative tissue, endometrium, which shed along the periodic menstrual blood and thus their acquisition involves no physical invasiveness. However, t...

Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) Involvement in Human Endometrial Remodeling During the Menstrual Cycle

Background: Endometrial remodeling occurs during each menstrual cycle in women. Reports have shown that, in a variety of cell types, processes such as proliferation, signaling complex formation and extra cellular matrix remodeling require a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, focal adhesion kinase (FAK). The present study has focused on the expression pattern of FAK in human endometrium during the men...

Effect of Adding Human Chorionic Gonadotropin to The Endometrial Preparation Protocol in Frozen Embryo Transfer Cycles