E-CADHERIN AND ITS MESSENGER-RIBONUCLEIC-ACID IN PERIIMPLANTATION PHASE HUMAN ENDOMETRIUM IN NORMAL AND CLOMIPHENE-TREATED CYCLES

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether treatment with clomiphene citrate, which is estrogenic and antiestroge nic, Effects the expression of the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin i n human periimplantation phase endometrium. STUDY DESIGN: Five healthy women were studied for two cycles each, a control and a treated (clom iphene 50 mg daily, days 5 through 9) cycle. A biopsy specimen of endo metrial tissue was studied (8 to 10 days post luteinizing hormone surg e) for immunohistochemical localization, Western analysis of E-cadheri n with use of a highly specific monoclonal antibody to human E-cadheri n, and determination of messenger ribonucleic acid for E-cadherin by r everse transcription-polymerase chain reaction by use of oligonucleoti de primers specific to E-cadherin and amplifying a 432 bp fragment. RE SULTS: Luteal phase plasma progesterone levels were significantly high er in clomiphene cycles. E-cadherin was immunocytochemically present i n endometrium of control and treated cycles with no apparent differenc e in staining intensity. Western blots revealed the presence of E-cadh erin. It was relatively more abundant in clomiphene-treated than contr ol cycles but not significantly different. The message for E-cadherin gene is expressed in endometrium of control (n = 5) and clomiphene cyc les (n = 4). CONCLUSIONS: E-cadherin and its gene transcripts are expr essed in periimplantation phase endometrium and are not significantly affected by clomiphene treatment.