Effect of hCG on Receptivity of the Human Endometrium

Summary

Worldwide, 1 in 12 couples experience difficulty in getting pregnant and seek the help of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as in vitro fertilization (IVF-egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body), ovarian stimulation (medications are used to stimulate egg development) and intra-cytoplasmic injection (ICSI-single sperm is injected directly into the egg). Regardless of the ART procedure being performed, the newly fertilized embryo must still implant into the mothers endometrium (inner lining of uterus). This implantation process in humans is surprisingly inefficient and accounts for up to 50% of ART failures. Intrauterine infusion of hCG prior to embryo transfer has recently been shown to increase pregnancy rates but the cellular mechanism for this increase is unknown. Successful implantation requires the newly fertilized embryo and the endometrium develop in a synchronized manner. This coordinated development is accomplished, in part, by proteins secreted by the embryo which circulate throughout the maternal bloodstream and alert the maternal body organs (i.e. ovary, endometrium, breast, ect) that fertilization has occurred. One of the earliest of these secreted proteins is human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is the molecule detected in over-the-counter pregnancy tests. From previous studies, we know that hCG production by the embryo alerts the ovary to continue producing progesterone, a hormone required for pregnancy. However, very little is known about the direct effect of hCG on the endometrium during early pregnancy in humans. Using animal models, hCG has been shown to induce specific changes in the endometrium, suggesting that embryo-derived hCG may be "priming" the endometrium in anticipation of implantation. The goal of this research study is to examine the direct effect of hCG on the human endometrium and see if this "priming effect" is also present in humans. Findings from this research may reveal whether pre-treatment with hCG can enhance ART outcomes, especially pregnancy rates.

Timeline

Start

2013-01

Primary completion

2016-03

Completion

2016-03

Publications

• Background Macklon NS, Geraedts JP, Fauser BC. Conception to ongoing pregnancy: the 'black box' of early pregnancy loss. Hum Reprod Update. 2002 Jul-Aug;8(4):333-43. doi: 10.1093/humupd/8.4.333.
• Background Koot YE, Teklenburg G, Salker MS, Brosens JJ, Macklon NS. Molecular aspects of implantation failure. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2012 Dec;1822(12):1943-50. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2012.05.017. Epub 2012 Jun 7.
• Background Fazleabas AT, Donnelly KM, Srinivasan S, Fortman JD, Miller JB. Modulation of the baboon (Papio anubis) uterine endometrium by chorionic gonadotrophin during the period of uterine receptivity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Mar 2;96(5):2543-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.5.2543.
• Background Banaszak S, Brudney A, Donnelly K, Chai D, Chwalisz K, Fazleabas AT. Modulation of the action of chorionic gonadotropin in the baboon (Papio anubis) uterus by a progesterone receptor antagonist (ZK 137. 316). Biol Reprod. 2000 Sep;63(3):820-5. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod63.3.820.
• Background Banerjee P, Sapru K, Strakova Z, Fazleabas AT. Chorionic gonadotropin regulates prostaglandin E synthase via a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-extracellular regulatory kinase pathway in a human endometrial epithelial cell line: implications for endometrial responses for embryo implantation. Endocrinology. 2009 Sep;150(9):4326-37. doi: 10.1210/en.2009-0394. Epub 2009 Jun 25.
• Background Sherwin JR, Sharkey AM, Cameo P, Mavrogianis PM, Catalano RD, Edassery S, Fazleabas AT. Identification of novel genes regulated by chorionic gonadotropin in baboon endometrium during the window of implantation. Endocrinology. 2007 Feb;148(2):618-26. doi: 10.1210/en.2006-0832. Epub 2006 Nov 16.
• Background Sherwin JR, Hastings JM, Jackson KS, Mavrogianis PA, Sharkey AM, Fazleabas AT. The endometrial response to chorionic gonadotropin is blunted in a baboon model of endometriosis. Endocrinology. 2010 Oct;151(10):4982-93. doi: 10.1210/en.2010-0275. Epub 2010 Jul 28.
• Background Brosens JJ, Hodgetts A, Feroze-Zaidi F, Sherwin JR, Fusi L, Salker MS, Higham J, Rose GL, Kajihara T, Young SL, Lessey BA, Henriet P, Langford PR, Fazleabas AT. Proteomic analysis of endometrium from fertile and infertile patients suggests a role for apolipoprotein A-I in embryo implantation failure and endometriosis. Mol Hum Reprod. 2010 Apr;16(4):273-85. doi: 10.1093/molehr/gap108. Epub 2009 Dec 14.
• Background Evans J, Catalano RD, Brown P, Sherwin R, Critchley HO, Fazleabas AT, Jabbour HN. Prokineticin 1 mediates fetal-maternal dialogue regulating endometrial leukemia inhibitory factor. FASEB J. 2009 Jul;23(7):2165-75. doi: 10.1096/fj.08-124495. Epub 2009 Mar 2.
• Background Mansour R, Tawab N, Kamal O, El-Faissal Y, Serour A, Aboulghar M, Serour G. Intrauterine injection of human chorionic gonadotropin before embryo transfer significantly improves the implantation and pregnancy rates in in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a prospective randomized study. Fertil Steril. 2011 Dec;96(6):1370-1374.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.09.044. Epub 2011 Nov 1.
• Strug MR, Su R, Young JE, Dodds WG, Shavell VI, Diaz-Gimeno P, Ruiz-Alonso M, Simon C, Lessey BA, Leach RE, Fazleabas AT. Intrauterine human chorionic gonadotropin infusion in oocyte donors promotes endometrial synchrony and induction of early decidual markers for stromal survival: a randomized clinical trial. Hum Reprod. 2016 Jul;31(7):1552-61. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dew080. Epub 2016 Apr 26.

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