Immunohistochemical localization of β1 and β4 integrins in mouse endometrium during implantation and early pregnancy

Abstract

Implantation presents the remarkable synchronisation between the development of embryo and differentiation of endometrium. Cell-cell adhesion is an important phenomenon taking place during blastocyst implantation in uterine membrane. We think that the investigation of existence and the level of integrins in women can be a guide for treatment of infertility. Our purpose in this study was to show expression β1 and β4 integrins on gestational days 4, 6, 12 by immunohistochemical methods and to investigate whether β4 integrin is a useful marker for receptivity. β1 and β4 integrin were exhibited on surface epithelium on gestational day 4. On the other hand, strong β4 immunoreactivity was detected on surface epithelium and glandular cells on gestational day 12 but no β1 reactivity was present in the surface epithelium and glandular cells on day 12. In conclusion, both β1 and β4 integrins may have a role in implantation process because positive immunoreactivity was seen on apical membrane of surface epithelium on day 4 when implantation occurred. The localization to apical pole of surface epithelium suggest a role for β1, β4 integrins in initial embryo and endometrium interaction. It does not seem that β1 integrin has a role supporting pregnancy since expression of β4 on surface epithelium and glandular epithelium disappeared on day 12. β4 integrin expression increasing on day 12 of pregnancy leads us to think a possible functional role supporting pregnancy