Influence of hCG on inducible nitric oxide synthase gene expression in ram testicular arteries.

UNLABELLED: Background. Experimental evidence suggests a relationship between the vasodilatory effect of hCG and the NOS system in the testis. The influence of hCG administration on testicular vascular NOS gene expression has not been fully investigated. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the presence of the nitric oxide syntheses gene in ram testicular arteries and the influence of hCG administration on its expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Both testicular arteries of sixteen rams were extracted before and after i.v. administration of 5000 IU of hCG or placebo. The expression of the iNOS gene was investigated by real time PCR. Data were analyzed by means of Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. A p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: PCR revealed the presence of iNOS mRNA in all basal samples but the expression of the iNOS gene was significantly reduced in all arteries obtained 24 h after the administration of either hCG or placebo. A significant reduction in the expression of iNOS gene was observed in the testicular arteries extracted after 24 h in both treated and placebo groups. On the other hand hCG stimulation did not significantly influence iNOS expression following its administration compared to a placebo. CONCLUSION: Ram testicular arteries express the iNOS gene but hCG stimulation did not significantly influence iNOS expression. A significant reduction in the expression of this gene was observed in the testicular arteries extracted after 24 h in both treated and placebo groups, suggesting that iNOS expression on the testicular artery could be influenced by the spermatic vessel ligation of the controlateral testis.

Reduced percentage of natural killer cells associated with impaired cytokine network in the secretory endometrium of infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate lymphocyte subset distribution in the secretory endometrium from infertile patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and the expression of the cytokines known to play a role in determining the endometrial lymphocyte pattern. DESIGN: Experimental clinical study. SETTING: Outpatient clinic in a university hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty-eight patients with PCOS (PCOS group) and 6 fertile patients (control group). INTERVENTION(S): On days 22-26 of a spontaneous cycle, subjects underwent endometrial biopsies. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURE(S): In 19 of 28 patients with PCOS and 6 controls with a late secretory endometrium, the percentage and phenotype of lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. In the late secretory endometrium of 11 patients with PCOS and 3 controls, the expression of interleukins 15 and 18 and of chemokine ligand 10 was also analysed by polymerase chain reaction. RESULT(S): In patients with PCOS the percentage of CD56+/CD16- and of CD56bright/CD16- cells was significantly lower (median [confidence interval]: 38% [31%-52.7%] vs. 63.7% [57.7%-69%] and 17.4% [8%-41.6%] vs. 52% [43%-60%], respectively), whereas the percentage of CD3+ was significantly higher (45% [33.3%-64%] vs. 26.1% [21%-32%]) as compared with controls. Accordingly, polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed a significantly lower expression of interleukins 15 and 18 and of chemokine ligand 10 in patients with PCOS than in controls. CONCLUSION(S): Results demonstrated an abnormal percentage of endometrial lymphocyte subsets, associated with an impaired cytokine network in patients with PCOS. This could explain the poor reproductive potential in these patients.

Abnormal pattern of lymphocyte subpopulations in the endometrium of infertile women with chronic endometritis.

PROBLEM: Endometrial lymphocytes play a critical role in endometrial receptivity. This study aimed at evaluating the variations induced by chronic endometritis (CE) on endometrial lymphocyte subsets. We compared the results in infertile women diagnosed with CE with those in unexplained infertile women without any sign of CE. METHOD OF STUDY: Twenty-three women referring for unexplained infertility had hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy in the follicular phase; in nine women, CE was diagnosed (group CE+), while in 14 it was not (group CE-). All patients in the late secretory phase of the subsequent cycle underwent endometrial biopsy. By flow cytometry, the percentage and phenotype of the endometrial lymphocyte subpopulations were analyzed. RESULTS: The secretory endometrium of patients with CE displayed significantly lower percentage of CD56(+) CD16(-) and of CD56(bright) CD16(-) cells (47.8% +/- 18.6 and 30.1% +/- 20.5 versus 79.5% +/- 3.9 and 67.3% +/- 8.1, respectively; P < 0.01) as compared with group CE(-), while the percentage of CD3(+) cells was significantly higher (25% +/- 12.2 versus 10.5 +/- 5; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Infertile women with CE showed an abnormal percentage of endometrial lymphocyte subsets compared with unexplained infertile women suggesting that different mechanisms underlie the adverse pregnancy outcome of the two groups of patients.

Normal percentage of CD56bright natural killer cells in young patients with a history of repeated unexplained implantation failure after in vitro fertilization cycles.

Changes in endometrial leukocyte subpopulations and most of all in the percentage of uterine natural-killer cells (uNK), during the menstrual cycles, may have a pivotal role in the implantation process. An increase of activated NK cells (CD56dim CD16+ CD69+) in the peripheral blood of patients with a reduced rate of embryo implantation in IVF treatment has been reported elsewhere, but we found, by using flow cytometry, normal endometrial lymphocyte subpopulations in young patients with a history of repeated unexplained implantation failure who were undergoing IVF cycles for idiopathic infertility.