US EPA

1306872 

Journal Article 

High doses of oral contraceptives do not alter endometrial alpha 1 and alpha v beta 3 integrins in the late implantation window 

Taskin, O; Brown, RW; Young, DC; Poindexter, AN; Wiehle, RD 

1994 

Yes 

Fertility and Sterility
ISSN: 0015-0282
EISSN: 1556-5653 

61 

5 

850-855 

English 

7513656 

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of an emergency contraceptive agent on the distribution of integrin heterodimers during that part of the implantation window.

DESIGN: Prospective, case-controlled study in a university-based Population Program. In the first ovulatory control cycle after the detection of LH surge, patients had endometrial sampling 11 days after the surge. In the next cycle the procedure was repeated 2 days after the administration of a postcoital contraceptive agent on day 9 after LH surge (100 g ethinyl E2 and 2 mg norgestrel).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The effects of postcoital contraceptives on the expression of integrin heterodimers (alpha 1 and alpha v beta 3 subunits) reported to be unique to secretory phase was determined.

RESULTS: All six specimens were consistent histologically with days 24 and 25 of the menstrual cycle by light microscopy. Using immunohistochemistry, strong membrane staining of endometrial glandular cells and superficial epithelium for both alpha 1 subunit and vitronectin (alpha v beta 3) receptor was observed in treatment and controls. No diminution of intensity or distribution was observed relative to pretreatment controls.

CONCLUSIONS: There is no apparent change in the level of these two integrins in the human endometrium when high-dose oral contraceptives are given in the later stages of the implantation window. This suggests that the high doses of steroids used in emergency contraceptives may exert their effect through more complex mechanisms than endometrial cell surface changes.