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Dexamethasone attenuates the embryotoxic effect of endometriotic peritoneal fluid in a murine model

  • Reproductive Physiology and Disease
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy rate of women with advanced stage endometriosis is nearly half that of the general population, suggesting incomplete targeting of the pathophysiology underlying endometriosis-associated infertility. Compelling evidence highlights inflammation as the etiologic link between endometriosis and infertility and a potential target for adjunctive treatment. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of dexamethasone on murine embryos exposed to human endometriotic peritoneal fluid (PF) using the established murine embryo assay model.

Methods

PF was obtained from women with and without severe endometriosis. Murine embryos were harvested and randomly allocated to five groups of culture media conditions: (1) human tubal fluid (HTF), (2) HTF and 10 % PF from women without endometriosis, (3) HTF and 10 % PF from women with endometriosis (PF-E), (4) HTF with PF-E and 0.01 mcg/mL dexamethasone, and (5) HTF with PF-E and 0.1 mcg/mL dexamethasone. Embryos were cultured in standard conditions and evaluated for blastocyst development.

Results

A total of 266 mouse embryos were cultured. Baseline blastulation rates were 63.6 %. The addition of peritoneal fluid from women with endometriosis decreased the blastocyst development rate to 38.9 % (P = 0.008). The addition of 0.1 mcg/mL of dexamethasone to the culture media restored the blastulation rate to near baseline levels (61.2 %; P = 0.019).

Conclusions

The results of our in vitro study demonstrate the capacity of dexamethasone to mitigate the deleterious impact of endometriotic PF on embryo development. If confirmed in vivo, dexamethasone may prove a useful adjunct for the treatment of endometriosis-associated infertility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Madigan Army Medical Center, 9040 Jackson Ave, Tacoma, WA, 98431, USA

    Ryan J. Heitmann, Kyle J. Tobler & Richard O. Burney

  2. Department of Clinical Investigation, Madigan Army Medical Center, 9040 Jackson Ave, Tacoma, WA, 98431, USA

    Laurie Gillette, Juan Tercero & Richard O. Burney

  3. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Madigan Healthcare Systems, ATTN: MCHJ-OG, 9040A Fitzsimmons Drive, Tacoma, WA, 98431-1100, USA

    Richard O. Burney

Authors
  1. Ryan J. Heitmann
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  2. Kyle J. Tobler
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  3. Laurie Gillette
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  5. Richard O. Burney
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Correspondence to Richard O. Burney.

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The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense or the United States Government.

Capsule The addition of dexamethasone mitigates the embryotoxic effects of endometriotic peritoneal fluid in a murine embryo model. Dexamethasone may represent an adjunctive therapy for endometriosis-associated infertility.

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Heitmann, R.J., Tobler, K.J., Gillette, L. et al. Dexamethasone attenuates the embryotoxic effect of endometriotic peritoneal fluid in a murine model. J Assist Reprod Genet 32, 1317–1323 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0516-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0516-0

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