Diabetes mellitus increased integrins gene expression in rat endometrium at the time of embryo implantation.

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus deeply changes the genes expression of integrin () subunits in several cells and tissues such as monocytes, arterial endothelium, kidney glomerular cells, retina. Furthermore, hyperglycemia could impress and reduce the rate of successful assisted as well as non-assisted pregnancy. Endometrium undergoes thorough changes in normal menstrual cycle and the question is: What happens in the endometrium under diabetic condition?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current study was to investigate the endometrial gene expression of α3, α4, αv, β1 and β3 subunits in diabetic rat models at the time of embryo implantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-eight rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, diabetic group, pioglitazone-treated group, and metformin-treated group. Real-time PCR was performed to determine changes in the expression of α3, α4, αv, β1, and β3 genes in rat's endometrium.

RESULTS

The expression of all subunits increased significantly in diabetic rats' endometrium compared with control group. Treatment with pioglitazone significantly reduced the level of subunits gene expression compared with diabetic rats. While metformin had a different effect on α3 and α4 and elevated these two subunits gene expression.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes mellitus significantly increased the expression of studied subunits, therefore untreated diabetes could be potentially assumed as one of the preliminary elements in embryo implantation failure.