Study summary · research use only
Endometrial human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) expression is a marker for adequate secretory transformation of the endometrium
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
In this human study of women undergoing routine infertility diagnostics, the authors examined endometrial biopsies and serum samples to test whether endometrial expression of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a protein secreted early by the embryo, correlates with adequate secretory transformation of the endometrium. Endometrial hCG expression, detected immunohistochemically, was reported to correlate significantly with the endometrial score used to measure regular secretory transformation. Infiltration of CD45-positive leukocytes increased alongside progressing endometrial secretory transformation and rising endometrial hCG expression, and serum progesterone concentrations correlated with hCG expression in the endometrial glands. The authors suggest endometrial hCG as a possible diagnostic parameter reflecting endometrial secretory transformation and, potentially, implantation capability.
Abstract
Successful embryo implantation into the endometrium depends on embryonic characteristics and proper endometrial development. Reproductive medicine often focuses on embryo quality, whereas reliable diagnostic tests for endometrial receptivity are still needed. We previously found that human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), one of the earliest proteins secreted by the embryo, was also expressed by the luteal phase endometrium around the implantation window. Here, we tested our hypothesis of endometrial hCG as an implantation marker. Endometrial biopsies and serum samples were taken from patients undergoing routine infertility diagnostics. Correlations of immunohistochemically detected endometrial hCG expression with adequate endometrial secretory transformation, the infiltration of CD45-positive leukocytes, clinical diagnostic parameters, and endometrial thickness were analyzed. A highly significant correlation between the endometrial score, as a measurement for regular secretory transformation, and the intensity of hCG staining was found. The invasion of CD45-positive leukocytes increased with progressing endometrial secretory transformation and rising endometrial hCG expression. In addition, serum progesterone concentrations correlated with hCG expression by the endometrial glands. Our results suggest endometrial hCG as a possible diagnostic parameter characterizing the endometrial secretory transformation and, thus, possibly also its implantation capability.
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