Quercetin interferes with the fluid volume and receptivity development of the uterus in rats during the peri-implantation period.

HYPOTHESIS

Quercetin could induce changes to the fluid volume and receptivity development of the uterus during peri-implantation period.

METHODS

Female rats were treated with quercetin (10, 25 and 50mg/kg/day) subcutaneously beginning from day-1 pregnancy. Uterus was harvested at day-4 (following three days quercetin treatment) for morphological, ultra-structural, protein and mRNA expressional changes and plasma sex-steroid levels analyses. In another cohort of rats, implantation rate was determined at day-6 (following five days quercetin treatment).

RESULTS

Administration of 50mg/kg/day quercetin causes increased in uterine fluid volume and CFTR expression but decreased in γ-ENaC, AQP-5, AQP-9 claudin-4, occludin, E-cadherin, integrin αnβЗ, FGF, Ihh and Msx-1expression in the uterus. Pinopodes were poorly develop, tight junctions appear less complex and implantation rate decreased. Serum estradiol levels increased but serum progesterone levels decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

Interference in the fluid volume and receptivity development of the uterus during peri-implantation period by quercetin could adversely affect embryo implantation.