Ovarian stimulation modulates steroid receptor expression and spheroid attachment in peri-implantation endometria: studies on natural and stimulated cycles
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
Heterotypic Three-dimensional In Vitro Modeling of Stromal-Epithelial Interactions During Ovarian Cancer Initiation and Progression
Published on: August 28, 2012
Joyce Chai1, Kai-Fai Lee, Ernest H Y Ng
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China. jchai@hkucc.hku.hk
Objective:
To compare the effect of high serum E(2) levels on endometrial steroid receptors in gonadotropin-stimulated cycles (hCG + 7) and natural cycles (LH + 7), and to study its effect on spheroid attachment.
Design:
Observational.
Setting:
University hospital.
Patient(S):
Infertile patient with normal menstrual cycles undergoing IVF treatment.
Intervention(S):
Gonadotropin stimulation and endometrial biopsy; trophoblast spheroid (embryo surrogate, Jeg-3)-endometrial cell (Ishikawa) coculture assay.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Steroid receptor expression by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry; spheroid attachment rate.
Result(S):
Endometrial biopsies from natural (n = 12) and stimulated (n = 23) cycles were obtained. The expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) but not ERβ or progesterone receptor (PR) transcript was significantly reduced in stimulated cycles compared with natural cycles. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) transcript was significantly increased in the excessive responders of the stimulated cycle. There was no difference in ERα immunoreactivity in endometrial stroma, but a higher immunoreactivity was seen in endometrial glands of stimulated cycles. The endometrium of stimulated cycles had a lower expression of PR protein in glands, but a higher expression in stroma. Although no GR protein was detected in glands, GR protein expression was significantly up-regulated in stroma of the stimulated cycles. Endometrial cells treated with high steroid concentrations had a reduced spheroid attachment rate compared with the controls.
Conclusion(S):
High serum E(2) level affects the expression of steroid receptors in the endometrial cells and suppresses spheroid attachment.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...
01:22Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH release.
01:27Ovarian Cycle
02:07Oogenesis