G D Moore1, C A Eddy, C J Pauerstein. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7836.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of rabbit endometrial or endosalpingeal cells to support implantation in vitro and to assess the effects of endosalpinx and endometrium-conditioned media (CM) on blastocyst-endometrial cell interaction. DESIGN: In one experiment, rabbit blastocysts were co-cultured in vitro with endometrial or endosalpingeal cells growing on Matrigel-coated plastic culture plates or Millicell-HA inserts. In a second experiment, rabbit blastocysts were co-cultured with endometrial cells in the presence of fresh medium or of endosalpinx- or endometrial-CM. After 48 or 72 hours attachment to the cell monolayer was evaluated. RESULTS: Blastocysts in co-culture attached to endometrial but not to endosalpingeal monolayers. The addition of CM from cultured endosalpinx significantly decreased embryo attachment to endometrial cells in culture. CONCLUSIONS: These findings in vitro agree with the observation that rabbit endosalpinx in vivo does not support embryo implantation and support the hypothesis that rabbit endosalpinx secretes a factor that prevent tubal implantation.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of rabbit endometrial or endosalpingeal cells to support implantation in vitro and to assess the effects of endosalpinx and endometrium-conditioned media (CM) on blastocyst-endometrial cell interaction. DESIGN: In one experiment, rabbit blastocysts were co-cultured in vitro with endometrial or endosalpingeal cells growing on Matrigel-coated plastic culture plates or Millicell-HA inserts. In a second experiment, rabbit blastocysts were co-cultured with endometrial cells in the presence of fresh medium or of endosalpinx- or endometrial-CM. After 48 or 72 hours attachment to the cell monolayer was evaluated. RESULTS: Blastocysts in co-culture attached to endometrial but not to endosalpingeal monolayers. The addition of CM from cultured endosalpinx significantly decreased embryo attachment to endometrial cells in culture. CONCLUSIONS: These findings in vitro agree with the observation that rabbit endosalpinx in vivo does not support embryo implantation and support the hypothesis that rabbit endosalpinx secretes a factor that prevent tubal implantation.