Development and characterization of an endometrial tissue culture model for study of early implantation events

Capsule:
An improved endometrial tissue culture system was developed. The cultured tissue responded to steroids, allowed leukemia inhibitory factor–dependent blastocyst attachment, and underwent decidualized reaction in vitro.

Authors:
Tian-Min Ye, M.D., Ph.D., Ronald T. K.Pang, Ph.D., Carmen O. N. Leung, M.Med.Sc., Weimin Liu, Ph.D., William S. B.Yeung, Ph.D.

Volume 98, Issue 6, Pages 1581-1589, December 2012

Abstract:

Objective:
To improve and characterize an endometrial tissue culture model.

Design:
Experimental study of the characteristics of mouse endometrial tissue cultured on amniotic membrane matrix.

Setting:
University research laboratory.

Animals:
Sexually mature female ICR mice.

Interventions:
Histological examination of the cultured endometrial tissues. The attachment rates of the cultured tissues to implantation blastocysts under various conditions were determined.

Main Outcome measures:
Morphometric analysis of the cultured tissues. Blastocyst attachment rate and expression of decidualization markers cylcooxygenase-2, connexin 43, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ.

Results:
Endometrial tissues could be grown on AMM for 3 days with morphometric parameters similar to the in vivo pseudopregnant control. The cultured tissues responded to the surrounding steroid environment. Morphometric assessment indicated medium containing 63.5 nmol/L progesterone and 0.9 nmol/L estradiol provided the best support. The condition allowed attachment of about 60% of the cocultured blastocysts. A small percentage of the attached blastocyst started to penetrate the luminal epithelium within 28 hours. The attachment rate was significantly reduced with prior treatment of the cultured endometrium with anti-leukaemia inhibitory factor antibody. The attached blastocyst induced decidualization around the attachment site.

Conclusions:
The model is useful for the study on implantation in the mouse.