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Abstract : |
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the endometrium of women with unexplained infertility differs in the presence of the beta 3 (خ²3) integrin molecule from the endometrium of normal fertile women. In a retrospective case-control study 30 endometrial biopsies from hysterectomies with nonendometrial pathology and 30 endometrial samples from women with a history of unexplained infertility were collected during the window of implantation. Immunohistochemically staining with a monoclonal antibody against خ²3 integrin subunit in endometrial biopsies was performed and then assessed semiquantitively by microscope on different endometrial compartments including glandular epithelial cells, vessels, lymphocytes, macrophages and stromal cells. Chi-square test was used to compare the expression and defect of خ²3 integrin subunit between two groups. The results showed that خ²3 integrin molecules were present in fertile and infertile endometrial uterine tissues. The majority of glandular epithelial cells expressed خ²3 integrin in fertile endometrium. However, the endometrial expression of خ²3 integrin was reduced significantly in infertile endometrium during the window of implantation (p<0.05). A few numbers of vessels and stromal cells expressed خ²3 integrin molecule with no statistical significance between the two groups. In conclusion Abnormal endometrial integrin expression is a frequent finding in women with unexplained infertility. A therapeutic potential approach in improving uterine endometrium receptivity together with up-regulation of خ²3 integrin in this population of women suggested. , |
