The effect of hyperstimulation on transforming growth factor β1 and β2 in the rat uterus: possible consequences for embryo implantation  Aleksandra Jovanović, M.Sc., Beverley Kramer, Ph.D.  Fertility and Sterility  Volume 93, Issue 5, Pages 1509-1517 (March 2010) DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.12.092 Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 Graphs representing progesterone and estrogen concentrations and P:E2 ratio between control and hyperstimulated animals on the different days of pregnancy. (A) Progesterone concentrations (ng/mL) in control (pink columns) and hyperstimulated animals (gray columns) on different days of pregnancy. (B) Estrogen concentrations (pg/mL) in the control (purple columns) and hyperstimulated animals (gray columns) on different days of pregnancy. (C) Ratio between progesterone and estradiol plasma concentrations (P:E2 × 10−3) in control (green line) and hyperstimulated (gray line) animals on different days of pregnancy. Fertility and Sterility 2010 93, 1509-1517DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.12.092) Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

Figure 2 Representative sections of 4.5 and 6.5 day control and hyperstimulated animals showing TGF-β1 immunolocalization. (A) 4.5-day control rat, and (B) 4.5-day hyperstimulated rat. Note the weak cytoplasmic immunolocalization of the TGF-β1 in the luminal (LE) and the glandular (GE) epithelial cells and the stronger immunolocalization in the stroma (ST). Also note apical immunolocalization of the TGF-β1 in the luminal epithelial cells (arrow). MV = microvillus border. Note the weak TGF-β1 immunolocalization in the luminal epithelium (LE) with distinct apical concentration (arrow). Two regions (ST-1 and ST-2) of different TGF-β1 immunolocalization in the stroma were apparent. (Counterstained with hematoxylin; magnification: ×400.) (C) 6.5-day control rat, and (D) 6.5-day hyperstimulated rat. Note the embryo (EMB) lying unattached in the uterine lumen (L) and the opposite sides of the luminal epithelium (arrow) positioned closer to each other. Also note the strong TGF-β1 immunolocalization at the antimesometrial pole (AMM) and weaker TGF-β1 expression in the surrounding stroma (ST). MM = mesometrial pole. Note two regions (ST-1 and ST-2) of different TGF-β1 immunolocalization in the stroma were apparent in the hyperstimulated animal. (Counterstained with hematoxylin; magnification: ×100.) Fertility and Sterility 2010 93, 1509-1517DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.12.092) Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

Figure 3 Representative sections of 4.5 and 5.5 day control and hyperstimulated animals showing TGF-β2 immunolocalization. (A) 4.5-day control rat, and (B) 4.5-day hyperstimulated rat. Note the strong TGF-β2 immunolocalization in the luminal epithelial cells of the control animal (LE). ST = stroma; L = lumen. Note the weak TGF-β2 immunolocalization in the luminal epithelial cells (LE), which was mostly concentrated at the apical pole of these cells (arrow). Also note the regionalization into two zones (ST-1 and ST-2) was present in the stroma. (Counterstained with hematoxylin; magnification: ×400.) (C) 5.5-day control rat, and (D) 5.5-day hyperstimulated rat. Note the weak the TGF-β2 immunolocalization in both the glandular epithelium (GE) and stroma (ST). Note strong immunolocalization of TGF-β2 in the glandular epithelium (GE). ST = stroma. (Counterstained with hematoxylin; magnification: ×400.) Fertility and Sterility 2010 93, 1509-1517DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.12.092) Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions