%0 Journal Article %T Overexpression of Endometrial Estrogen Receptor-Alpha in The Window of Implantation in Women with Unexplained Infertility %J International Journal of Fertility and Sterility %I Royan Institute, Iranian Academic Center for Education Culture and Research (ACECR) %Z 2008-076X %A Dorostghoal, Mehran %A Ghaffari, Hamid-o-allah %A Moramezi, Farideh %A Keikhah, Narjes %D 2018 %\ 04/01/2018 %V 12 %N 1 %P 37-42 %! Overexpression of Endometrial Estrogen Receptor-Alpha in The Window of Implantation in Women with Unexplained Infertility %K Estrogen receptor %K α %K Glycodelin %K A %K implantation %R 10.22074/ijfs.2018.5118 %X Background Failure in the endometrial receptivity may account for a significant number of infertility cases including unexplained infertility in women. Reduction in the endometrial estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α) expression during implantation may be a critical event that coincides with the expression of specific genes and the formation of a receptive endometrium. The aim of the present study was to assess the expression of ER-α in the mid-secretory phase in the endometrium of women with unexplained infertility. Materials and Methods This case-control study was carried out on randomly selected fertile (n=10) and infertile (n=16) women whose source of infertility remained unexplained. We evaluated the expression of ER-α and glycode-lin-A (GdA) through mRNA level measurement with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the endometrium of fertile women and patients suffering from unexplained infertility and fertile women. Endometrial biopsies of each subject were collected during a single menstrual cycle 7 days after the peak of luteinizing hormone (LH+7). Results Endometrial expression level of ER-α was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the patients with unexplained infertility compared to the control. Significantly (P < 0.05) lower levels of GdA expression were seen in women with unexplained infertility. A statistically non-significant negative correlation was observed between ER-α and GdA mRNA expression. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that reduction in the endometrial GdA expression is associated with elevated expression of ER-α in mid-luteal phase. Disruption in the endometrial ER-α expression, which leads to defects in uterine receptivity, may contribute to unexplained infertility. %U https://www.ijfs.ir/article_45463_a0520d50c72d3cc37f96569e5f1bac50.pdf