Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

A Study on the Presence of Osteopontin and α3β1 Integrin in the Endometrium of Diabetic Rats at the Time of Embryo Implantation

Authors
Yasaman Zarrin 1
Abbas Bakhteyari 2
Parvaneh Nikpour 3
Fatemeh Sadat Mostafavi 2
Nahid Eskandari 4
Mohammad Matinfar 5
Roshanak Aboutorabi 2
1 Isfahan Medical Student Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicab
4 Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
5 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Background: Embryo implantation is a critical and multifactorial phenomenon which can be affected by any alteration in molecular micro construction of endometrium. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of diabetes on osteopontin (OPN) and α3β1 integrin proteins level at the time of endometrial receptivity. Methods: Twenty-eight female rats were divided into control, diabetic, pioglitazone-treated and metformin-treated groups. Western blot was performed to determine the OPN and α3β1 integrin proteins in rats’ endometrium at the time of implantation. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: OPN increased significantly in the diabetic group in comparison with control (p<0.001), metformin-treated (p=0.008) and pioglitazone-treated groups (p<0.001). Furthermore, α3β1 integrin protein level in diabetic group had a significant difference in comparison with that of the control (p<0.001), metformin-treated (p=0.026) and pioglitazone-treated groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: OPN and α3β1 integrin proteins are involved in embryo implantation and their changes in diabetic condition can affect fertility. Treatment with pioglitazone and metformin improved the level of OPN and α3β1 integrin proteins while pioglitazone was more effective.
Keywords
Diabetes Mellitus
Endometrium
Osteopontin
α3β1 integrin
Journal of Reproduction & Infertility
Volume 21, Issue 2
Spring 2020
Pages 87-93