Maternal serum Netrin-1 levels as a new biomarker of preeclampsia.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the Netrin-1 levels in maternal serum was associated with the presence of preeclampsia (PE). METHODS: Total 72 patients, including 28 normal pregnant women and 44 patients with PE, were included in this study. Maternal serum Netrin-1 concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Maternal serum Netrin-1 levels were detected statistically higher in preeclamptic group than control group (p < 0.05). When compared with subgroups, Netrin-1 levels were also higher in severe PE group than mild PE group but this was not detected statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Maternal serum Netrin-1 has a potential to be a new marker for the detection of PE.

An animal model of effects of nicotine exposure on endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims at evaluating the endometrial receptivity in uterus of pregnant rats exposed to nicotine via examination of integrin expression by immunohistochemical effect. METHODS: In this study, 16 healthy pregnant rats were divided into two groups of control and study groups each comprising eight rats. The rats randomised to study group were given a certain amount of nicotine before and during the pregnancy. Integrin expression was detected in uterus of all rats by immunohistochemical staining. The effect of nicotine exposure on embryo implantation and the endometrial receptivity were immunohistochemically and pathologically evaluated. RESULTS: Comparison of both groups revealed no difference in living, viable foetuses. Intensity and universality of immunohistochemical staining of Integrin ß3 for endometrial epithelium and endometrial stroma were detected to be identical between the groups. CONCLUSION: No immunochemical effect was observed on integrin expression, which is a very important part of receptivity in an animal model created with pregnant rats that were transdermally exposed to nicotine. Our study demonstrated that the harmful effect of nicotine use before and pregnancy on implantation is limited at the level of integrin expression, in a dose-dependent manner and also by considering the method of administration.

Does metoclopramide exposure alter endometrial receptivity and decrease pregnancy rates?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of metoclopramide on endometrial receptivity with an immunohistochemical investigation of integrin ß3 expression in pregnant rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, the pregnant mice administrated by different doses of metoclopramide were used to explore the effect of metoclopramide on embryo implantation, especially on the endometrial receptivity. RESULTS: The statistical results showed that the number of implanted embryos was gradually declining along the increasing dose of metoclopramide. When the administrated dose of metoclopramide was 3 mg/kg per day, great changes were observed in the exposed uterine morphology and down-regulated integrin ß3 were also found in high dose metoclopramide-exposed mice. CONCLUSION: Metoclopramide exposure, especially in high doses may alter endometrial receptivity by effecting integrin expression on decidual tissue which can decrease pregnancy rates. This drug should only be recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs the risk.