Genes that may improve IVF success rates

New research has some encouraging news for people using in vitro fertilization. Published online in Developmental Cell, the study shows that a higher amount of two developmental genes at precise times in the uterus might improve pregnancy rates, currently at around 30%.

Researchers from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center looked at two genes that play important roles in organ formation during fetal development. They are also essential for ensuring that the uterus is in a receptive phase. Sudhansu K. Dey, PhD, director of the Division of Reproductive Sciences in the Perinatal Institute at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center believes that compromised uterine receptivity is a major cause of pregnancy failure with IVF.

“Our findings raise the possibility that clinicians may be able to develop new strategies to improve implantation rates in IVF programs by temporarily increasing uterine levels of Msx (one of the genes). This could allow clinicians to potentially extend the window of uterine receptivity and grant transferred embryos more time to implant,” said Dey.

They used engineered mice to observe how the genes worked. The loss of one type of gene was enough to cause detrimental reproductive consequences. With the hormone loss, uterine luminal epithelial cells respond incorrectly and fail to develop a crypt-like structure called a nidus which is necessary for placing the embryo in implantation.

While researchers have gained a lot of knowledge in the way that these genes work and regulate fertility further research is needed before this knowledge can be used to manipulate successful reproductive experiences for women who choose IVF.

Source: Developmental Cell, MedicalNewsToday