BIOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL MULTIPARAMETRIC ANALYSIS OF STEROID-RECEPTORS AND GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTORS IN HUMAN NORMAL ENDOMETRIUM IN SPONTANEOUS CYCLES AND AFTER THE INDUCTION OF OVULATION

This study was carried out with three aims: to assess the variations o f receptors for beta-oestradiol and progesterone, and for epidermal gr owth factor (EGF), alpha-fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and beta-FGF, during a spontaneous cycle in normo-ovulatory patients, 2 days before, and 2 and 7 days after the day of ovulation; to compare the control g roup of patients with those given ovulation induction using a multipar ametric approach; and to study the role of luteal supplementation with progesterone in two groups of patients treated by a luteinizing hormo ne-releasing hormone agonist plus human menopausal gonadotrophin. The results were assessed by biochemical analyses and by immunohistochemis try. In spontaneous cycles, a decrease in steroid receptors occurred d uring the luteal phase. There was an increase in EGF and EGF receptors which was induced by oestradiol secretion, and an increase during the luteal phase of alpha-FGF and beta-FGF, which are considered to be an giogenic factors. comparisons between spontaneous and induced cycles s howed a few variations in the endometrium but no differences were rela ted to the type of ovulation induction.