Changes in the Development
of Uterine Pinopodes in Steroid Hormone Supplemented Cycles
I. OBORNÁ1, R. NOVOTNÝ2, J. BŘEZINOVÁ1,
P. PETROVÁ3, V. LICHNOVSKÝ2, H. FINGEROVÁ1
1Department of Obsterics and Gynecology, 2Institute
of Histology, Embryology and Microscopic Methods and 3Department
of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Palacký University,
Olomouc, Czech Republic
Received June 30, 2003
Accepted September 26, 2003
Summary
The endometrium acquires the ability to implant a hatched
blastocyst only within a specific time termed the receptive
phase. Ovarian steroid hormones are essential for structural and
functional changes that prepare the endometrium to be receptive.
Pinopodes have been suggested to be markers of uterine
receptivity. The aim of this study was to compare the pinopode
expression and serum levels of ovarian steroid hormones in the
mid-luteal phase of the natural cycle and in a “mock” cycle in
the same subject. Sequentional endometrial biopsies within 48
hours were obtained from women in the mid-luteal phase
(ovulation +5, ovulation +7) of the natural cycle and in the
“mock” cycle (progesterone supplementation +5 and +7). Biopsies
were examined under a scanning electron microscope for pinopode
detection. The expression of pinopodes was similar in both
cycles, where pinopodes covered about 5 % of the endometrial
surface. The developmental stages were also similar with a
slight increase of fully developed pinopodes in both samples in
the “mock” cycles. Our findings suggest that hormonal
preparation of the endometrium do not change the timing of
pinopode expression.
Key words
Endometrial receptivity • Pinopodes • Scanning electron
microscopy • Steroid hormones
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