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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

Effects of Levonorgestrel and progesterone on Oviductal physiology in mammals

Authors: Cheng Li, Hui-Yu Zhang, Yan Liang, Wei Xia, Qian Zhu, Duo Zhang, Zhen Huang, Gui-Lin Liang, Rui-Hong Xue, Hang Qi, Xiao-Qing He, Jiang-Jing Yuan, Ya-Jing Tan, He-Feng Huang, Jian Zhang

Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Our previous study indicated that emergency contraception, including levonorgestrel and progesterone, could lead to ectopic pregnancy following contraception failure. However, our understanding of the effects of levonorgestrel and progesterone on oviductal physiology is limited.

Methods

The receptivity of the fallopian tubal epithelium after levonorgestrel and progesterone treatment was examined through western blots for receptivity markers and JAr-spheroid-fallopian tubal epithelial cell attachment assays. The ciliary beat frequency was analyzed using an inverted bright-field microscope. Furthermore, an in vivo animal model of embryo-tubal transplantation was also studied to determine the effects of levonorgestrel- and progesterone-induced ciliary beat reduction.

Results

Our results showed that levonorgestrel and progesterone did not change the levels of fallopian tubal epithelial cell receptive markers, including LIF, STAT3, IGFBP1, ITGB3, MUC1, and ACVR1B, or affect JAr-spheroid implantation. However, levonorgestrel and progesterone reduced the ciliary beat frequency in fallopian tubes in a dose-dependent manner. An in vivo model also showed that levonorgestrel and progesterone could lead to embryo retention in the oviducts.

Conclusions

These findings show that levonorgestrel and progesterone can reduce the ciliary beat frequency without altering receptivity, indicating a possible mechanism for progesterone- or levonorgestrel-induced tubal pregnancy.
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Metadata
Title
Effects of Levonorgestrel and progesterone on Oviductal physiology in mammals
Authors
Cheng Li
Hui-Yu Zhang
Yan Liang
Wei Xia
Qian Zhu
Duo Zhang
Zhen Huang
Gui-Lin Liang
Rui-Hong Xue
Hang Qi
Xiao-Qing He
Jiang-Jing Yuan
Ya-Jing Tan
He-Feng Huang
Jian Zhang
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-018-0377-3

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