Fine Structure of Epithelial Cell of Secretory Endometrium in Unexplained Primary Infertility

Gore, Bernard Z.; Gordon, Mildred

doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)40208-6

Cited by 16 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Fifth, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation increased the number and size of NCSs in the endometrial epithelium of 15 women undergoing IVF compared to those of 15 control women (16). Finally, in several women with unexplained primary infertility lasting from 4.5 to 8 years, the absence of NCSs was the sole abnormal parameter noted in their secretory endometrium (7,17). In other cases of unexplained infertility, the development of the NCS was delayed (18).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

The nucleolar channel system reliably marks the midluteal endometrium regardless of fertility status: a fresh look at an old organelle

Rybak

Szmyga

Zapantis

et al. 2011

Fertility and Sterility

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective To determine if nucleolar channel systems (NCSs) in the midluteal endometrium are associated with overall fertility status and/or with unexplained infertility. Design Retrospective and prospective clinical studies. Setting Repository of stored specimens from prior multicenter study and private infertility center, respectively. Patients Retrospective study: 97 women (49 fertile couples, 48 infertile couples) who had been randomized for endometrial biopsy during the midluteal or late luteal phase. Prospective study: 78 women with a variety of infertility diagnoses. Intervention Endometrial biopsies were obtained and assessed for the presence of NCSs by indirect immunofluorescence. Main Outcome Measures NCS presence was graded semi-quantitatively and dichotomized as normal versus low or absent. Results Normal NCS presence was significantly associated with the midluteal phase compared to the late luteal phase (80% versus 29%). However, there was no association between NCS presence and fertility status or between NCS presence and unexplained infertility. Conclusions Midluteal phase endometrium consistently forms NCSs regardless of fertility status, including unexplained infertility. This indicates a possible role for the NCS in initiating the window of endometrial receptivity. However, the consistent presence of NCSs across several different types of infertility challenges the likelihood that inadequate secretory transformation is a cause of infertility.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

The nucleolar channel system reliably marks the midluteal endometrium regardless of fertility status: a fresh look at an old organelle

Rybak

Szmyga

Zapantis

et al. 2011

Fertility and Sterility

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Nevertheless, over the years, several studies braved the challenges of electron microscopic NCS detection describing occasionally inconsistent results, likely due to undersampling. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Having identified molecular markers for NCSs allows their quantitative detection on a light microscopic level. 1,15 In particular, using indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies directed against a subset of nuclear pore complex proteins that are enriched in NCSs, we determined that the midluteal presence of NCSs is robust (about half of EECs harbor an NCS), their appearance is independent of fertility status, they are uniformly distributed throughout the upper uterine cavity, and they prefer the functional luminal layers of the endometrium.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progesterone Threshold Determines Nucleolar Channel System Formation in Human Endometrium

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nucleolar channel systems (NCSs), micron-sized organelles specific to nuclei of human endometrial epithelial cells (EECs), are robust markers of the midluteal phase under the apparent control of progesterone. To gain further insight into the role of progesterone in NCS formation, we quantitatively assessed their sensitivity to oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) using immunofluorescence-based detection of NCSs. Comparison of endometrial biopsies and serum progesterone levels on cycle day (CD) 10 and 20 (LH +6/7) of 6 naturally cycling women and 6 OCP users demonstrated that OCPs interfered with NCS formation on CD20, their natural peak presence. Although this confirmed prior observation based on electron microscopic sampling, OCPs unexpectedly induced limited but distinct amounts of NCSs already on CD10, when they are never present in natural cycles. Thus, OCPs can cause secretory changes in the endometrium during the proliferative phase. In a novel finding, robust NCS formation on CD20 was dependent on a 4 ng/mL progesterone threshold but did not correlate linearly with serum progesterone levels. Given the threshold being close to that serving as evidence for ovulation, NCSs can serve as ovulation markers.

show abstract

“…They appear to be induced by progesterone and are sensitive to oral and intrauterine contraceptives (Azadian-Boulanger et al, 1976;FeriaVelasco et al, 1972;Kohorn et al, 1970;Kohorn et al, 1972;PryseDavies et al, 1979;Roberts et al, 1975;Wynn, 1967). Finally, in several cases of unexplained infertility the absence or delayed appearance of NCSs was noted as the sole abnormal endometrial parameter (Dockery et al, 1996;Gore and Gordon, 1974;Kohorn et al, 1972). Despite this and additional evidence, NCSs have been neglected as potential markers or prerequisites for implantation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nuclear pore complex proteins mark the implantation window in human endometrium

Guffanti

Kittur

Brodt

et al. 2008

Journal of Cell Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nucleolar channel systems (NCSs) are membranous organelles appearing transiently in the epithelial cell nuclei of postovulatory human endometrium. Their characterization and use as markers for a healthy receptive endometrium have been limited because they are only identifiable by electron microscopy. Here we describe the light microscopic detection of NCSs using immunofluorescence. Specifically, the monoclonal nuclear pore complex antibody 414 shows that NCSs are present in about half of all human endometrial epithelial cells but not in any other cell type, tissue or species. Most nuclei contain only a single NCS of uniform 1 μm diameter indicating a tightly controlled organelle. The composition of NCSs is as unique as their structure; they contain only a subset each of the proteins of nuclear pore complexes, inner nuclear membrane, nuclear lamina and endoplasmic reticulum. Validation of our robust NCS detection method on 95 endometrial biopsies defines a 6-day window, days 19-24 (±1) of an idealized 28 day cycle, wherein NCSs occur. Therefore, NCSs precede and overlap with the implantation window and serve as potential markers of uterine receptivity. The immunodetection assay, combined with the hitherto underappreciated prevalence of NCSs, now enables simple screening and further molecular and functional dissection.

show abstract

Fine Structure of Epithelial Cell of Secretory Endometrium in Unexplained Primary Infertility

Cited by 16 publications

References 7 publications

The nucleolar channel system reliably marks the midluteal endometrium regardless of fertility status: a fresh look at an old organelle

The nucleolar channel system reliably marks the midluteal endometrium regardless of fertility status: a fresh look at an old organelle

Progesterone Threshold Determines Nucleolar Channel System Formation in Human Endometrium

Nuclear pore complex proteins mark the implantation window in human endometrium

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About