Effects of letrozole and clomiphene citrate on the expression of HOXA10 and integrin alpha v beta 3 in uterine epithelium of rats.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of letrozole and clomiphene citrate on the expression of HOXA10 and integrin alpha(v)beta(3) in the uterine epithelium in rats.

DESIGN

Controlled prospective study.

SETTING

Teaching hospital and university research laboratory.

ANIMAL(S): Sixty sexually mature female Wistar-Albino rats that were 20 weeks of age.

INTERVENTION(S): Letrozole, 5 mg/kg of body weight daily (20 rats); clomiphene citrate, 100 microg/kg daily (20 rats); and saline solution, 2 mL/day (20 rats). After 2 days, rats were killed and hysterectomized.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Expression of integrin alpha(v)beta(3) and HOXA10.

RESULT(S): The expression of integrin alpha(v)beta(3) in the clomiphene citrate group was statistically significantly lower than in the letrozole and saline solution groups. The expression of HOXA10 was statistically significantly higher in the saline solution group than in the letrozole group, and the letrozole group showed a statistically significantly higher expression of HOXA10 compared with the clomiphene citrate group.

CONCLUSION(S): In rats, letrozole affects the expression of HOXA10 in uterine epithelium but has no effect on the expression of integrin alpha(v)beta(3), which suggests that clomiphene suppresses endometrial receptivity more than letrozole. In the future, letrozole may be an appropriate drug for ovulation induction.