Abstract
It was hypothesized that endometrial tight junction morphology and expression of tight junction proteins i.e., claudin-4 and occludin in the uterus, are affected by testosterone. Therefore, the effects of testosterone on these parameters in the uterus during receptivity period were investigated. Ovariectomized adult female rats were given testosterone (1 mg/kg/day) alone or in combination with flutamide or finasteride between days 6 to 8 of sex-steroid replacement treatment, which was considered the period of uterine receptivity. Ultramorphology of tight junctions was visualized by transmission electron microscopy while distribution and expression of claudin-4 and occludin were examined by immunofluorescence and real-time polymerase chain reaction respectively. Administration of testosterone caused loss of tight junction complexity and down-regulated expression of claudin-4 and occludin in the uterus. Decreased endometrial tight junction complexity and expression of claudin-4 and occludin in the uterus during receptivity period by testosterone may interfere with embryo attachment and subsequent implantation.
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