Uterine receptivity for blastocyst implantation.

The receptivity for blastocyst implantation is controlled by progesterone and in some species by the synergistic action of progesterone and estrogen. The duration of the receptive phase, the so-called "window," is short in rodents (less than 24 hours) and may be three days in the primate. Once the uterus becomes receptive, it automatically becomes refractory at the end of the receptive phase. The uterus in the refractory phase can be toxic to the blastocyst in small laboratory animals. The endometrium of the receptive uterus may be characterized by the following parameters: (1) Formation of bulbous protrusions on the apical surface of the luminal epithelium; (2) Secretion of the stage-specific glycoproteins by the luminal epithelium; (3) Readiness of stromal cells to decidualize when appropriate stimulation is applied; and (4) Reorganization and changes of stromal extracellular matrix components so that stromal cells are conditioned for decidualization, and after decidualization the appearance of basement membrane components in the matrix.