Altered circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and their inhibitors and effect of progesterone supplementation in women with endometriosis undergoing in vitro fertilization Abhay Kumar Singh, M.Sc., Ratna Chattopadhyay, M.B.B.S., Baidyanath Chakravarty, M.D., Koel Chaudhury, Ph.D. Fertility and Sterility Volume 100, Issue 1, Pages 127-134.e1 (July 2013) DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.03.006 Copyright © 2013 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions
Figure 1 The bar graphs show levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP) 1, TIMP-2 (ng/mL), and transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 (pg/mL) in (A) follicular fluid and (B) serum of group A compared with group B. A representative Western blot analysis of Smad-2 and Smad-3 in (C) follicular fluid and (D) serum is shown for both the groups. β-Actin expression was used to normalize the amount of loaded protein in each well. The bar graphs represent two independent experiments obtained by densitometric scanning of the blots. Values are expressed as mean ± SD. *P≤.05. Fertility and Sterility 2013 100, 127-134.e1DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.03.006) Copyright © 2013 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions
Figure 2 Follicular fluid concentrations of (A) MMP-2, (B) MMP-9, (C) TIMP-1, and (D) TIMP-2 of follicles containing different grades of oocytes (mature and immature) and embryo quality (grade I+II and grade III) in women of group A. The box and whisker plots are constructed from five values: the smallest value, first quartile, median, third quartile, and maximum values. Abbreviations as in Figure 1. Fertility and Sterility 2013 100, 127-134.e1DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.03.006) Copyright © 2013 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions
Figure 3 Comparison of serum MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 levels in pregnant women of group A before (BPS) and after (APS) P supplementation (A; *P<.001). Mean (±SD) values of MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio are shown in (B) and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio in (C) before and after progesterone supplementation to pregnant women of both the groups (*P<.05; Mann-Whitney U test). Other abbreviations as in Figure 1. Fertility and Sterility 2013 100, 127-134.e1DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.03.006) Copyright © 2013 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions