An animal model of effects of nicotine exposure on endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation in pregnancy

Objective: This study aims at evaluating the endometrial receptivity in uterus of pregnant rats exposed to nicotine via examination of integrin expression by immunohistochemical effect. Methods: In this study, 16 healthy pregnant rats were divided into two groups of control and study groups each comprising eight rats. The rats randomised to study group were given a certain amount of nicotine before and during the pregnancy. Integrin expression was detected in uterus of all rats by immunohistochemical staining. The effect of nicotine exposure on embryo implantation and the endometrial receptivity were immunohistochemically and pathologically evaluated. Results: Comparison of both groups revealed no difference in living, viable foetuses. Intensity and universality of immunohistochemical staining of Integrin 3 for endometrial epithelium and endometrial stroma were detected to be identical between the groups. Conclusion: No immunochemical effect was observed on integrin expression, which is a very important part of receptivity in an animal model created with pregnant rats that were transdermally exposed to nicotine. Our study demonstrated that the harmful effect of nicotine use before and pregnancy on implantation is limited at the level of integrin expression, in a dose-dependent manner and also by considering the method of administration.