Telomerase expression in fertile patients compared to infertile patients with thin endometria

Abstract

A very thin endometrial lining that is unresponsive to estrogen is often associated with infertility and failed ART cycles. We hypothesized that these patients may have a decrease or absence of endometrial epithelial stem cells compared to normal patients. Telomerase defines immortalized stem cells and is present in tissues that continually regenerate, including the endometrium. We first identified the pattern of telomerase expression in endometrial glands across the menstrual and mitotic cycles in fertile normal controls and then compared this to telomerase expression in cases of unresponsive, thin endometria.