Ovarian stimulation by exogenous gonadotropin decreases the implantation rate and expression of mouse blastocysts integrins

ABSTRACT

Integrins are heterodimeric glycoprotein receptors that regulate the interaction of cells with extracellular matrix and may have a critical role in implantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ovulation induction on the expression of Alpha4, Alphav, Beta1, and Beta3 integrins in mouse blastocyst at the time of implantation. The ovarian stimulated and non-stimulated pregnant mice were sacrificed on the morning of 5[th] day of pregnancy. The blastocysts were collected, and the expression of Alphav, Alpha4, Beta1, and Beta3 integrins was examined using real-time RT-PCR and immunocytochemical techniques, then their ovarian hormones were analyzed at the same time. The implantation sites in uterine horns of other pregnant mice in both groups were determined under a stereomicroscope on the 7[th] day of pregnancy. The results showed that the expression of Alphav, Beta1, and Beta3 integrins in both mRNA and protein levels was significantly lower in the ovarian stimulated group than the control group, and the maximum ratio of expression was belonged to Beta1 molecule [P>0.05]. The implantation rate in superovulated mice was significantly lower than control mice. It was suggested that ovulation induction decreased the expression of Alphav, Beta1, and Beta3 integrins of mouse blastocysts