Is sildenafil citrate affect endometrial receptivity? An immunohistochemical study

Gynecol Endocrinol. 2011 Oct;27(10):767-74. doi: 10.3109/09513590.2010.540601. Epub 2010 Dec 29.

Abstract

The authors aimed to investigate the effect of sildenafil citrate (Sc) on expressions of β(3) integrin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is taking part in endometrium receptivity in implantation window period in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) performed rats. In this study, Wistar albino female rats were used and were divided into four groups as control, COH, Sc, and COH + Sc groups. They were sacrificed on the third, fourth, and fifth day of pregnancy, uteruses were resected, and uteri sections were stained with immunohistochemical method and evaluated. β(3) integrin immunoreactivity was most intensely observed in the endometrial glandular epithelium (GE) and stromal cells in the Sc group on the third day, whereas immunoreactivity was most intensely detected in the luminal epithelium (LE), GE, and stromal cells in the Sc group on the fourth day. VEGF immunoreactivity was most intensely observed in the endometrial LE in the Sc group on the third day, in the Sc and COH + Sc groups on the fourth day, and in the COH + Sc group on the fifth day. Our results indicated that Sc plays a role in both implantation and decidualization by affecting β(3) integrin and VEGF expressions in implantation window period in rats.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Decidua / cytology
  • Decidua / drug effects
  • Decidua / metabolism
  • Embryo Implantation / drug effects*
  • Endometrium / cytology
  • Endometrium / drug effects*
  • Endometrium / metabolism*
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fertility Agents, Female / pharmacology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Integrin beta3 / metabolism
  • Ovulation Induction*
  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Placentation / drug effects
  • Pregnancy
  • Purines / pharmacology
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Sildenafil Citrate
  • Stromal Cells / cytology
  • Stromal Cells / drug effects
  • Stromal Cells / metabolism
  • Sulfones / pharmacology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Fertility Agents, Female
  • Integrin beta3
  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors
  • Piperazines
  • Purines
  • Sulfones
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Sildenafil Citrate