Publications by authors named "Anne Riesewijk"
Understanding the molecular changes that occur during the window of implantation is fundamental to our knowledge of human reproduction. Lately, the development of microarray technology has allowed this process to be studied from a global molecular perspective. In the last 2 years, researchers have focused their efforts on throwing light on the gene expression profile of the receptive endometrium.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFControlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) used in IVF produces lower implantation rates per embryo transferred compared to natural cycles utilized in ovum donation, suggesting a suboptimal endometrial development. Endometrial receptivity has recently been investigated in natural menstrual cycles with the aid of microarray technology. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of COH using urinary gonadotrophins with a long protocol with GnRH agonists without progesterone supplementation (similar to the natural cycle) on endometrial gene expression profiles during the window of implantation by comparing the profiles at day hCG + 7 of COH versus LH + 7 of a previous natural cycle in the same women.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFScientific knowledge on the molecular changes that occur during the window of implantation is fundamental for the understanding of human reproduction. To gain a global molecular understanding of human endometrial receptivity, we have compared gene expression profiles of pre-receptive (day LH + 2) versus receptive (LH + 7) in well characterized human endometrial biopsies. The samples were analyzed using the Affymetrix HG-95A array, a high density oligonucleotide microarray comprising more than 12,000 genes.
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- Successful implantation relies on the interaction between the blastocyst and a receptive uterus, with key factors like leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and Hoxa-10 being crucial for this process in mice.
- Studies using mutant mice revealed the significance of Msx-1 and Wnt4 in implantation, showing their differential expression in the uterus during the periimplantation phase.
- Abnormal expression patterns of these genes in mutant mice highlight the importance of the cytokine-homeotic-Wnt signaling network in successful implantation.
Relaxin (RLX) is a pregnancy-associated polypeptide hormone. In non-pregnant women, the peak of circulating relaxin coincides with the window of endometrial receptivity and both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that it plays a role in the decidualization process. Recently, two receptors, LGR7 and LGR8, have been identified as high affinity receptors for relaxin.
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- The study investigates how the embryo interacts with the endometrium during the implantation process by comparing gene expression in different phases of the menstrual cycle.
- Researchers analyzed tissue samples from the same fertile woman at two points (LH+2 and LH+7) and identified 211 genes whose expression significantly changed, unveiling both known and novel genes related to endometrial receptivity.
- The study's validation showed that specific genes, like GPx-3, claudin-4, and SLC1A1, exhibit unique patterns of expression during the menstrual cycle, emphasizing the intricate mechanisms involved in preparing the endometrium for implantation.