BACKGROUND Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors are key-players in extracellular matrix and basement membrane degradation, and are involved in both physiological and malignant processes. The aim of this study was to examine MMP-2, -7 and -9 and TIMP-1 and -2 expression in normal, hyperplastic and malignant endometrium, and their relation to clinical and histological prognostic ...

BACKGROUND The current understanding of hormonal regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-26 (MMP-26) in the primate endometrium is incomplete. The goal of this work was to clarify estrogen and progesterone regulation of MMP-26 in the endometrium of ovariectomized, hormone-treated rhesus macaques. METHODS Ovariectomized rhesus macaques (n= 66) were treated with estradiol (E(2)), E(2) plus proge...

We investigated whether the repulsive SLIT/ROBO pathway is expressed in the endometrium and is negatively regulated during implantation. We also examined whether deficient expression in the Fallopian tube (FT) may predispose to ectopic pregnancy (EP). Endometrium (n = 21) and FT (n = 17) were collected across the menstrual cycle from fertile women with regular cycles. Decidualized endometrium (...

During rat estrous cycle, the endometrium proliferates in response to sex steroids and specific endometrial epithelial cells undergo apoptosis in absence of embryonic factors. The central executioner of apoptosis is a family of aspartic acid-specific cysteine proteases known as caspases. Smac/DIABLO is released from the mitochondria during apoptosis and its stimulation promotes caspases activat...

Normal endometrium is a highly dynamic tissue, which responds to ovarian steroids with cyclic proliferation, differentiation (secretion), and degradation (menstruation). The urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)-dependent proteolytic cascade as well as ligand activation of the uPA receptor (uPAR) is critically involved in physiological as well as pathophysiological aspects of tissue expansion a...

The epithelial cell surface of the endometrium undergoes substantial biochemical changes to allow embryo attachment and implantation in early pregnancy. We hypothesized that tissue macrophages influence these events to promote uterine receptivity. To investigate the role of macrophages in regulating epithelial cell expression of genes linked to glycan-mediated embryo adhesion, Ishikawa, RL95-2 ...

STUDY QUESTION Can the basal epithelial compartment of the human endometrium be defined by specific markers? SUMMARY ANSWER Human endometrial epithelial cells from the basalis express nuclear SOX9 and the cell-surface marker SSEA-1, with some cells expressing nuclear β-catenin. In vitro, primary endometrial epithelial cells enriched for SSEA-1+ show some features expected of the basalis epith...

BACKGROUND Recent attention has focused on the expression of integrin molecules within the endometrium, and their relation to infertility. OBJECTIVE The present prospective study was undertaken to determine whether the endometrium of women with unexplained infertility differs in the expression of very late activation antigens (VLA) from the endometrium of normal fertile women. METHODS Thirt...

Higher environmental temperature is one of the major factors responsible for reduced fertility in farm animals. Heat stress causes a great suppression in endometrial function [1] besides compromised follicular growth [2], embryonic function [3] and oocyte developmental potential [4]. Heat stress also increases the production of PGF2α in the endometrium, leading to the early regression of CL or ...

We have studied in the porcine endometrium the expression of oxytocin receptor (OTR) mRNA and the effect of progesterone (P4) on oxytocin/oxytocin receptor (OT/OTR) function concerning intracellular Ca2+ mobilisation ([Ca2+]i), prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) and E2 (PGE2; PG) secretion. Tissue was taken from cyclic and early pregnant pigs (days 14-16). A higher expression of OTR mRNA (P < 0....