Mechanistic studies of embryotoxic factors in endometriosis

• Main Authors: Wan Ting Liao, 廖婉婷
• Other Authors: Yen-Jen Sung
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/51754136094949992776

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 解剖學及細胞生物學研究所 === 100 === Endometriosis is a benign estrogen-dependent gynecological disease that affects 10% of women of reproductive age, and an inflammatory disease that entuies complizated endometriosis pathogenesis and consequences. Previous studies reported that increased macrophages secreted cytokines and growth factors in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of endometriosis; however the role of these factors for infertility has not been fully understood. Adenomyosis (AD) and chocolate cyst (CH) are two of the more common types of endometriosis. In this study, we found that the PF from AD (AD-PF) and CH (CH-PF), respectively, affect mouse embryo development. Cytokine assay showed that expression of cytokines in PF, ex: TNF-α in AD-PF and CH-PF, which includes TNF-α, is higher than that in non-endometriosis (N) PF (N-PF). To determine the role of AD-PF, CH-PF and TNF-α induced apoptosis in the embryo development, we transferred the mouse two-cell embryos to AD-PF, CH-PF and TNF-α media. The embryo development ratio was significantly decreased in AD-PF, CH-PF and TNF-α media. ELISA showed that the concentration of TNF-α in AD-PF and CH-PF was 0.01~0.1 ng/ml. Embryo toxicity was observed when mouse embryos were cultured in 0.01 and 0.1 ng/ml TNF-α medium. These data collectively highlight the crucial role of TNF-α-induced apoptosis in the development of the embryo and suggest that TNF-α inhibitor may be a potential therapeutic agent for endometriosis-induced infertility.