Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of activin-βA subunit, activin type II receptors, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and MUC1 in the pathogenesis of ectopic pregnancy (EP) and their involvement in the determination of the implantation site.
DESIGN
Observational study.
SETTING
Academic unit of reproductive and developmental medicine.
PATIENT(S)
Four women at the luteal phase, three pseudopregnant women at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease, and 10 archived cases of EP. We collected 14 Fallopian tubes were collected from four women at the luteal phase and three pseudopregnant women at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease; specimens from implantation site, trophoblast and remote sites from the implantation site were collected from 10 archived cases of EP.
INTERVENTION(S)
Immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Comparison of the expression of candidate molecules between the different groups.
RESULT(S)
The expression of activin-βA subunit, activin type II receptors, and iNOS was statistically significantly increased and expression of MUC1 statistically significantly decreased in tubes bearing an EP. There was no statistically significant difference in the expression of the candidate molecules between the implantation and remote sites. Candidate molecules were also expressed in the trophoblast.
CONCLUSION(S)
The pathological expression of candidate molecules by tubes bearing an EP is not involved in the determination of implantation site. Additionally, candidate molecules may play a role in the regulation of trophoblast cells in vivo during early pregnancy.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Refaat B, Simpson H, Britton E, Biswas J, Wells M, Aplin JD, Ledger W

Institution

Laboratory Medicine Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Source

Fertility and sterility 97:5 2012 May pg 1115-23

MeSH

Activin Receptors, Type II
Adult
Embryo Implantation
England
Fallopian Tubes
Female
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Inhibin-beta Subunits
Mucin-1
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Ectopic
RNA, Messenger
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Retrospective Studies
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Signal Transduction
Trophoblasts
Young Adult

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22425195