ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression patterns of prokineticins (PROK) and prokineticin receptors (PROKR) in the endometrium of women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Fifteen (15) women with RIF and 15 fertile controls were enrolled in this study. Endometrial samples were taken from study participants with an endometrial biopsy cannula during the implantation window. Real time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to determine PROK/PROKR mRNA expression and protein localization, respectively. PROK1 mRNA levels were 6.09 times higher compared to endometrial samples obtained from women with RIF than in samples obtained from fertile controls, whereas PROKR1 mRNA levels were 2.46 times lower in endometrial samples obtained from women with RIF than in samples from fertile controls. In addition, decreased PROKR1 was supported by immunohistochemistry analysis at protein level. There was no statistically significant difference between women with RIF and fertile controls regarding PROK2 and PROKR2 levels. Altered expression of the PROK1/PROKR1 system could be one of the numerous abnormalities in the endometrium of women with RIF.
Subject(s)
Embryo Implantation/physiology , Endometrium/metabolism , Fertilization in Vitro , Gastrointestinal Hormones/genetics , Gene Expression/physiology , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Endocrine-Gland-Derived/genetics , Adult , Endometrium/chemistry , Female , Gastrointestinal Hormones/analysis , Gastrointestinal Hormones/physiology , Humans , Infertility, Female/genetics , Infertility, Female/therapy , Pregnancy , RNA, Messenger/analysis , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/analysis , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/physiology , Treatment Failure , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Endocrine-Gland-Derived/analysis , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Endocrine-Gland-Derived/physiologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine the associations between pre-treatment self-reported stress level, salivary cortisol levels, and clinical pregnancy outcome in couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatment (ART). STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-five couples (150 patients) undergoing ART treatment were enrolled in this study. Psychological variables were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. Salivary cortisol levels were obtained from each couple prior to commencing gonadotropin treatment at several times (upon waking and at 15, 30, and 60 min after waking). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant association between the self-reported stress levels and the ART treatment outcome in couples. Women with a successful outcome after ART treatment had higher median salivary cortisol levels than women who had an unsuccessful result [24.7 (19.9-63.1) vs. 20.7 (10.4-30.4), respectively]. There was no statistically significant difference in the median salivary cortisol levels of men in relation to ART treatment outcome. Salivary cortisol levels of the couples were not correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Women who had higher median salivary cortisol levels in the pre-treatment period had a higher clinical pregnancy rate. This result suggests that moderately increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during ART treatment might be associated with successful conception.