GnRH antagonists may affect endometrial receptivity

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 89; no. 5; pp. 1234 - 1239
• Main Authors: Rackow, Beth W., Kliman, Harvey J., Taylor, Hugh S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.05.2008; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Case-Control Studies; Endometrial receptivity; Endometrium - drug effects; Endometrium - metabolism; Endometrium - pathology; Female; Fertility Agents, Female - pharmacology; GnRH agonist; GnRH antagonist; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - agonists; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - analogs & derivatives; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - antagonists & inhibitors; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - pharmacology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Homeobox A10 Proteins; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism; Hormone Antagonists - pharmacology; HOXA10; Humans; implantation; Internal Medicine; Leuprolide - pharmacology; Medical sciences; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Ovulation Induction - methods; Prospective Studies; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Stromal Cells - drug effects; Stromal Cells - metabolism; Stromal Cells - pathology; HOXA10; implantation; Endometrial receptivity; GnRH agonist; GnRH antagonist; Agonist; Gynecology; Gonadotropin RH; Implantation; Antagonist; Obstetrics; Endometrium
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.04.060

HOXA10 is an essential regulator of endometrial receptivity. To determine the effect of GnRH antagonists on endometrial receptivity, we assessed endometrial HOXA10 expression in GnRH antagonist, GnRH agonist, and natural cycles. Prospective case-control study. University academic medical center. Nineteen subjects were included: 12 subjects underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with recombinant FSH and used either a GnRH antagonist or a GnRH agonist; seven control subjects underwent natural cycles. Pipelle endometrial biopsies were obtained 11 days after hCG administration or spontaneous LH surge in untreated cycles, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess HOXA10 protein expression in endometrial glands and stroma. Endometrial HOXA10 protein expression. HOXA10 expression was significantly decreased in endometrial stromal cells in GnRH antagonist–treated cycles compared with GnRH agonist–treated cycles or natural cycle control subjects. There was no significant difference in glandular cell HOXA10 expression among the three groups. Use of GnRH antagonists may be associated with impaired HOXA10 expression in endometrial stromal cells and thus may affect endometrial receptivity.