The expression of receptivity markers in the fallopian tube epithelium

Abstract

Pinopodes represent the morphological and integrins, the biomolecular markers of endometrial receptivity. We studied using scanning electron microscopy, the expression of pinopodes on tubal samples and their corresponding endometria, from 21 women of reproductive age (7 from proliferative phase, 7 from day LH +5 and 7 from day LH +7). In addition, we examined the immunohistochemical staining of integrins alpha v beta 3, alpha v beta 5 and their ligands, fibronectin (FN) and osteopontin (OPN) in the same tubal epithelium samples. Pinopodes were detected on the tubal epithelium exclusively during day LH +7, coincident with their formation in the endometrium and synchronous to alpha v beta 3 sharp increase in the oviduct epithelium, suggesting a regulation similar to the endometrium. In contrast, alpha v beta 5, FN and OPN remained unchanged during the cycle. These results show for the first time the formation of pinopodes in the tubal epithelium at the time of endometrial receptivity and correlate it with the upregulation of the intact dimmer alpha v beta 3 in the tubes.

Effects of DEHP on endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation in pregnant mice

“…From the results of H&E staining on D5, we found the uterine lumina of the control group were in the closed state, while those in most mice of the 1000 mg/kg/day DEHP group were opened. The closure of the lumen assists the contact of the embryo with the epithelium and positioning of pinopodes, which has better adhesion competence to the embryo than the microvilli, thereby promoting embryo implantation [23,22,35]. Apparently, DEHP inhibited the formation and development of pinopodes in our experiments, which in turn impaired endometrial receptivity and led to the failure of embryo implantation.…”

“…Adult female virgin Kunming mice (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25) (AN365) were from Beyotime Institute of Biotechnology (Shanghai, China). The primary antibody to ER␣ (rabbit, ab32063) was purchased from Abcam (Cambridge, MA, USA).…”

“…These steroids act primarily through their respective cognate nuclear receptors, the estrogen receptor (ER, mainly ER␣ but not ER␤) [21] and the progesterone receptor (PR) [22][23][24]. These nuclear receptors, as transcription factors, influence the expression of downstream molecules, such as adhesion molecules, homeobox genes, MMPs, LIF and others [15,19].…”

l-Selectin Ligands Expression in Human Fallopian Tube Epithelia of Tubal Pregnancies1

“…The ''tubal implantation window'' has been proposed by several investigators, during which time the tubal epithelium is susceptible to ectopic implantation [16][17][18]. The integrins a1b1, a4b1, and avb3 are likely to be differentially expressed during the menstrual cycle; in particular, increased expression of the b3 subunit is likely in the luteal phase [16][17][18].…”

Extending the knowledge in histochemistry and cell biology

“…For this reason, Makrigiannakis et al (2009) characterized the expression of receptivity markers in the fallopian tube epithelium. These include pinopodes as morphological markers studied by EM and integrins v 3, v 5 and their ligands as the molecular markers.…”