Endometrial Pinopode and αvβ3 Integrin Expression Is Not Impaired in Infertile Patients with Endometriosis

Purpose : To investigate endometrial receptivity in terms of pinopode formation and αvβ3 integrin expression in infertile women with endometriosis during natural cycles.

We investigated the expression of αvβ3 integrin and pinopode formation in the endometrium of 12 infertile patients with stage I or II endometriosis as the only cause of infertility, 12 infertile patients having unexplained infertility, and 12 fertile women who were undergoing tubal sterilization. Two endometrial biopsies (postovulatory day +7 to +8 and 4 days later) were performed during a single menstrual cycle in each subject.

No statistically significant difference regarding αvβ3 integrin expression and pinopode formation was found between infertile patients with endometriosis and the two control groups.

αvβ3 integrin expression and pinopode formation are not reduced during the window of implantation in patients with stage I–II endometriosis. Whether these results imply normal endometrial receptivity in such patients or add to the increasing uncertainty about the clinical value of assessing the endometrium with those markers of implantation, warrants further studies. Similar content being viewed by others REFERNCES Trinder J, Cahill DJ: Endometriosis and infertility: The debate continues. Hum Fertil (Camb) 2002;5(Suppl):S21-S27 Mahutte NG, Arici A: Endometriosis and assisted reproductive technologies: Are outcomes affected? Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2001;13:275–279 Barnhart K, Dunsmoor-Su R, Coutifaris C: Effect of endometriosis on in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril 2002;77:1148–1155 Garcia-Velasco JA, Arici A: Is the endometrium or oocyte/embryo affected in endometriosis? 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