A K Dubey1, J R Cruz, B Hartog, P R Gindoff. 1. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Fertility, and IVF Program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of alphav integrin in developing human embryos. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENT(S): Women undergoing IVF cycles. INTERVENTION(S): Immunofluorescent monoclonal antibodies against alphav integrin were used to stain human preimplantation embryos. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Immunofluorescence microscopy and computerized image analysis were used to evaluate both qualitative and quantitative expression of integrins in human embryos. RESULT(S): The alphav integrin subunit was found to be expressed in human embryos throughout their development (from two-cell stage up to blastocyst). The expression of alphav integrin subunit gradually increased throughout embryo development as measured quantitatively by image analysis. CONCLUSION(S): The expression of alphav integrin subunit throughout the development of preimplantation human embryos reinforces the concept of a role for integrins in the process of implantation.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of alphav integrin in developing human embryos. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENT(S): Women undergoing IVF cycles. INTERVENTION(S): Immunofluorescent monoclonal antibodies against alphav integrin were used to stain human preimplantation embryos. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Immunofluorescence microscopy and computerized image analysis were used to evaluate both qualitative and quantitative expression of integrins in human embryos. RESULT(S): The alphav integrin subunit was found to be expressed in human embryos throughout their development (from two-cell stage up to blastocyst). The expression of alphav integrin subunit gradually increased throughout embryo development as measured quantitatively by image analysis. CONCLUSION(S): The expression of alphav integrin subunit throughout the development of preimplantation human embryos reinforces the concept of a role for integrins in the process of implantation.