Human Reproduction · 1994 · 21 citations · 0 references
MedicineGynecologyMolecular BiologyInfertilityReproductive BiologyReproductive MedicineEndometriosisEndometriosis-associated InfertilityEndometriosis-related InfertilityFemale InfertilityHeat StressInfertility PathologyCellular Heat Shock ResponseControl Group DesignHeat Shock Protein RegulationHeat Shock ResponseHeat Shock Response GenesInfertility AssociationsMatched Control GroupOncogenic Transformation
The expression of heat shock protein (hsp) 70 was investigated in endometrial samples from patients with unexplained infertility associated (n = 5) or not associated (n = 10) with endometriosis, and compared with a control group consisting of fertile women (n = 27) with reported menstrual disturbance. The expression of hsp, and in particular hsp 70, is up-regulated in response to many physico-biochemical insults as well as infection and possibly oncogenic transformation and is a good indicator of a biological system under stress. A significant over-expression of hsp 70 was found in the infertile groups (P < 0.001), suggesting that a stress response may be involved in the aetiology of unexplained infertility irrespective of the presence of endometriosis.