Prostaglandin E2 involvement in mammalian female fertility: ovulation, fertilization, embryo development and early implantation

Abstract

BackgroundInfertility in mammalian females has been a challenge in reproductive medicine. The causes of female infertility include anovulation, ovulated oocyte defects, abnormal fertilization, and insufficient luteal support for embryo development, as well as early implantation. Ovulation induction, in vitro fertilization and luteal support regimens have been performed for decades to increase fertility rates. The identification of proteins and biochemical factors involved in female reproduction is essential to further increase female fertility rates. Evidence has shown that prostaglandins (PGs) might be involved in the female reproductive process, mainly ovulation, fertilization, and implantation. However, only a few studies on individual PGs in female reproduction have been done so far. This review aimed to identify the pivotal role of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a predominant PG, in female reproduction to improve fertility, specifically ovulation, fertilization, embryo development and early implantation.ResultsProstaglandin E2 (PGE2) was shown to play a relevant role in the ovulatory cascade, including meiotic maturation, cumulus expansion and follicle rupture, through inducing ovulatory genes, such as Areg, Ereg, Has2 and Tnfaip6, as well as increasing intracellular cAMP levels. PGE2 reduces extracellular matrix viscosity and thereby optimizes the conditions for sperm penetration. PGE2 reduces the phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) against sperm. In the presence of PGE2, sperm function and binding capacity to oocytes are enhanced. PGE2 maintains luteal function for embryo development and early implantation. In addition, it induces chemokine expression for trophoblast apposition and adhesion to the decidua for implantation.ConclusionIt has been shown that PGE2 positively affects different stages of female fertility. Therefore, PGE2 should be taken into consideration when optimizing reproduction in infertile females. We suggest that in clinical practice, the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are PGE2 synthesis inhibitors, should be reasonable and limited in infertile women. Additionally, assessments of PGE2 protein and receptor expression levels should be taken into consideration.

Development of a Novel Nomogram for Predicting Placenta Accreta in Patients With Scarred Uterus: A Retrospective Cohort Study

“…We doubt that medication in the fetal/placental circulation affects the secretion of certain factors in the placenta, which influence trophoblast invasion and angiogenesis of the placenta. Moreover, medications such as heparin and aspirin may affect the systemic blood circulation and the secretion of cytokines, which may lead to changes in maternal systemic and endometrial hormone levels, which may in turn affect endometrial decidualization, resulting in the implantation of the embryo and PA (29,30). However, there is currently insufficient evidence to be certain whether medication during pregnancy is an independent risk for PA.…”

Ameliorative effects of quercetin on the preimplantation embryos development in diabetic pregnant mice

“…Other essential factors that have essential roles in the development of embryo are prostaglandins (PG). Cyclo‐oxygenase (Cox) is the rate‐limiting enzyme for the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandin H2 (PGH2), the common substrate for various PG synthases . Diabetic pregnancies in animal models are associated with the downregulation of embryonic Cox2 gene expression and disturbance of PG metabolism in the blastocyst .…”

Secretory phospholipase A2-X (Pla2g10) is a novel progesterone receptor target gene exclusively induced in uterine luminal epithelium for uterine receptivity in mice

“…It is well understood that prostaglandins (PGs) are critical for sequential events of female reproduction from ovulation to parturition [1][2][3]. PGs are generated from arachidonic acid (AA) by phospholipase A 2 s (PLA 2 s) followed by cyclooxygenases.…”