Objectives: Thin endometrium is a common problem encountered in the field of assisted reproductive technology. We explored the effects of platelet-rich fibrin in a thin endometrium rat model.
Materials and methods: Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups. For the thin endometrium group, endometria of left uteri were injected with ethanol. For the experimental group, platelet-rich fibrin was sutured onto the left uteri of endometria injected with ethanol. Right uteri were kept as the normal (control) group. Two weeks after platelet-rich fibrin transplant, uteri were sampled for histology, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Endometrium thicknesses in normal, thin endometrium, and experimental groups were 632.2 ± 38.28, 434.80 ± 41.37, and 603.0 ± 40.93 μm, respectively. Endometrium thickness in the experi-mental group was significantly increased versus the thin endometrium group (P = .011). Immunohistochemical examination showed that expression levels of cytokeratin 18, vimentin, and leukemia inhibitory factor in the experimental group were significantly higher versus the thin endometrium group (P < .001, P < .006, and P = .001, respectively). In Western blot analysis, cytokeratin 18, integrin β3, leukemia inhibitory factor, and vimentin protein expressions were slightly higher in the experimental and normal groups versus the thin endometrium group. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed significantly higher octamer-binding transcription factor 4 mRNA levels in the experimental group versus the thin endometrium group (P < .001). Interleukin 6 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 mRNA levels were significantly upregulated in the experimental group versus the thin endometrium group (P= .004 and P < .001, respectively). Interleukin 1β mRNA expression was significantly lower in the experimental group versus the thin endometrium group (P < .007).
Conclusions: Application of platelet-rich fibrin has a therapeutic effect on thin endometrium in rats. Our results provide new insight on clinical treatment of thin endometrium.