Different Pattern of Pinopodes Expression in Stimulated Mouse Endometrium

Abstract

Adult NMRI mice were superovulated using human menopausual chorionic gonadotropic hormones (hMG and hCG), and then some of them were daily injected with progesterone (1 mg/mouse). At 3.5 and 4.5 days after hCG injection scanning electron micrographs revealed that the hyperstimulated and progesterone-injected group had well-developed pinopodes while most of the hyperstimulated group without progesterone injection had no pinopodes 3.5 days after stimulation. The results suggest that the lifespan of pinopodes is short and changeable during hyperstimulation and that progesterone causes premature formation of the pinopodes and that implantation after ovarian stimulation might depend upon the timing of the pinopode expression.