Seminal plasma enhances and accelerates progesterone-induced decidualisation of human endometrial stromal cells
U. Doyle A , N. Sampson A , C. Zenzmaier A , P. Schwärzler B and P. Berger A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Institute of Biomedical Aging Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Rennweg 10, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
B Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Teaching Hospital Feldkirch, Carinagasse 47, 6807 Feldkirch, Austria.
C Corresponding author. Email: peter.berger@oeaw.ac.at
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 24(3) 517-522 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD10296
Submitted: 6 November 2010 Accepted: 29 May 2011 Published: 16 November 2011
Abstract
In preparation for embryo implantation, endometrial stromal cells (ESC) undergo differentiation, termed decidualisation. Enhancing endometrial decidualisation may overcome reduced endometrial receptivity, a major limiting factor in natural and assisted reproduction. To determine whether seminal plasma (SP) influences decidualisation, primary human ESC were treated with progesterone (P4, 50 ng mL–1) in the presence or absence of dialysed SP (0.5%) for 24 h or for up to 27 days to investigate immediate early effects or the effects of prolonged exposure, respectively. Combined SP and P4 treatment induced ESC morphological differentiation. Relative to control, P4 alone, and SP alone combined treatment with SP and P4 for 27 days significantly upregulated mRNA levels of the decidua-specific markers prolactin (PRL) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP1). Consistently, PRL protein secretion was significantly increased over the course of 27 days combined SP and P4 treatment relative to control, P4 alone and SP alone. Likewise, IGFBP1 secretion was significantly greater relative to control and P4 alone over the course of 27 days. Thus, SP enhances and accelerates P4-mediated decidualisation of human ESC and may enhance endometrial receptivity.
Additional keywords: differentiation, endometrial receptivity, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1, prolactin.
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