Biomaterial Database

The effect of oral contraceptive pills on markers of endometrial receptivity. 1996

S G Somkuti, and J Sun, and C W Yowell, and M A Fritz, and B A Lessey

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7570, USA.

OBJECTIVE To determine if oral contraceptive (OC) usage alters expression of integrins associated with endometrial receptivity. METHODS Immunohistochemical staining intensity for integrins was compared in frozen sections of endometrial tissue specimens obtained from women with normal ovulatory cycles (n = 23; cycle days 20 to 24 based on LH surge) and from those taking oral contraceptives pills (n = 23; cycle days 5 to 27). METHODS University-based outpatient infertility clinic. RESULTS Constitutive integrin expression in the endometrium (alpha 2 beta 1, alpha 3 beta 1, alpha 5 beta 1, alpha 6 beta 1, and alpha 6 beta 4) was similar in OC users and normally cycling individuals, except for an increase in epithelial alpha 3 beta 1 in OC users. Oral contraceptive use was associated with significant alterations in cycle-dependent integrin expression (alpha 1 beta 1, alpha 4 beta 1, and alpha v beta 3). Specifically, we observed increased glandular alpha 4 beta 1, and decreased alpha v beta 3 expression. The P-regulated alpha 1 subunit was present in both groups. Increased stromal alpha v and beta 3 and decreased alpha 3 beta 1 and alpha 6 beta 1 staining was observed in OC users. CONCLUSIONS Expression of those integrins most closely associated with endometrial receptivity, alpha v beta 3 and alpha 4 beta 1, is altered in the glandular epithelium of women taking OCs. Stromal integrin expression in OC users also differs from that in cycling women. These alterations in epithelial and stromal integrin expression suggest that impaired uterine receptivity is one mechanism whereby OCs exert their contraceptive actions.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007150	Immunohistochemistry	Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents.	Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D003276	Contraceptives, Oral	Compounds, usually hormonal, taken orally in order to block ovulation and prevent the occurrence of pregnancy. The hormones are generally estrogen or progesterone or both.	Low-Dose Oral Contraceptive,Oral Contraceptive,Oral Contraceptives,Oral Contraceptives, Low-Dose,Oral Contraceptives, Phasic,Contraceptive, Low-Dose Oral,Contraceptive, Oral,Contraceptives, Low-Dose Oral,Contraceptives, Phasic Oral,Low Dose Oral Contraceptive,Low-Dose Oral Contraceptives,Oral Contraceptive, Low-Dose,Oral Contraceptives, Low Dose,Phasic Oral Contraceptives
D004717	Endometrium	The mucous membrane lining of the uterine cavity that is hormonally responsive during the MENSTRUAL CYCLE and PREGNANCY. The endometrium undergoes cyclic changes that characterize MENSTRUATION. After successful FERTILIZATION, it serves to sustain the developing embryo.	Endometria
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000911	Antibodies, Monoclonal	Antibodies produced by a single clone of cells.	Monoclonal Antibodies,Monoclonal Antibody,Antibody, Monoclonal
D013194	Staining and Labeling	The marking of biological material with a dye or other reagent for the purpose of identifying and quantitating components of tissues, cells or their extracts.	Histological Labeling,Staining,Histological Labelings,Labeling and Staining,Labeling, Histological,Labelings, Histological,Stainings
D016023	Integrins	A family of transmembrane glycoproteins (MEMBRANE GLYCOPROTEINS) consisting of noncovalent heterodimers. They interact with a wide variety of ligands including EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX PROTEINS; COMPLEMENT, and other cells, while their intracellular domains interact with the CYTOSKELETON. The integrins consist of at least three identified families: the cytoadhesin receptors (RECEPTORS, CYTOADHESIN), the leukocyte adhesion receptors (RECEPTORS, LEUKOCYTE ADHESION), and the VERY LATE ANTIGEN RECEPTORS. Each family contains a common beta-subunit (INTEGRIN BETA CHAINS) combined with one or more distinct alpha-subunits (INTEGRIN ALPHA CHAINS). These receptors participate in cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion in many physiologically important processes, including embryological development; HEMOSTASIS; THROMBOSIS; WOUND HEALING; immune and nonimmune defense mechanisms; and oncogenic transformation.	Integrin
D016201	Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing	Cell surface glycoproteins on lymphocytes and other leukocytes that mediate adhesion to specialized blood vessels called high endothelial venules. Several different classes of lymphocyte homing receptors have been identified, and they appear to target different surface molecules (addressins) on high endothelial venules in different tissues. The adhesion plays a crucial role in the trafficking of lymphocytes.	Hermes Antigen Family,Homing Receptors, T-Cell,Lymphocyte Homing Receptors,Homing Receptor, Lymph Node,Lymph Node Homing Receptor,Receptor, Lymph Node Homing,Antigen Family, Hermes,Homing Receptors, Lymphocyte,Homing Receptors, T Cell,Receptors, T-Cell Homing,T-Cell Homing Receptors