Ultrastructural and morphometrical study of preimplantation endometrium in superovulated mice treated with progesterone or Sildenafil

Background: Endometrial development has an important role in blastocyst adhesion and implantation. During IVF cycles, endometrial development isenhanced by progesterone. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare ultrastructural and morphometrical characteristics of mice uterine endometrium in natural cycle with those insuperovulated cycles received progesterone or Sildenafil. Materials and Methods: In This study, 60 female bulb/c mice were divided into 4groups: a control and 3 experimental; gonadotropin, gonadotropin+ Sildenafil and gonadotropin+ progesterone. In experimental groups the mice superovulated mated.In the gonadotropin+ progesterone and gonadotropin+ Viagra groups, the micerespectively received 1mg progesterone and 3 mg Sildenafil citrate. Their uterine specimens were prepared for morphometrical and ultrastructural study. Height of theepithelial cells was measured, using motic software. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA.Results: Microscopy revealed that in control group the cells had numerous apicalmicrovilli and the height of the cells was 20.52±2.43 μm. In gonadotropin+progesterone group, the granules were found in basal and apical portions and cellular height were 17.91±2.78 μm which were significantly shorter than in the control andgonadotropin groups (p<0.001). In this group, the apical membrane also contained pinopodes. In gonadotropin +Sildenafil group, the granules were found in bothapical and basal portions and the height of the cells were 17.60±2.49 μm which weresignificantly shorter than in the control and gonadotropin groups (p<0.001). In this group, pinopodes appeared slightly extensive than the other groups. Conclusion: It is concluded that superovulatory drugs in mice stimulate endometrial maturation but injection of Sildenafil is nearly more positive.

Keywords:

Implantation , Progesterone , Sildenafil , Mice , Uterine