Fare embriyosunun implantasyon potansiyelinin doğal ve yapay materyaller üzerinde 3 boyutlu endometriyal ko-kültür kullanılarak artırılması

Implantation of an embryo is a fundamental and important process of reproduction in humans. The implantation process is composed of various complex molecular and cellular steps. Embryo implantation occurs in a very short period which is called "window of implantation". Parameters of the successful implantation are related to the blastocyst itself and the receptivity of the uterus. During the window of implantation, highly complicated biological events take place, and despite the developments in assisted reproduction recurrent implantation failures and spontaneous abortions are still inevitable, which in turn on implies that, it is still necessary to bring new approaches to assisted reproduction applications to provide an increase of success in ART. The first aim of this widescale project is to generate a new attitude to enhance the implantation potential of mouse blastocysts by creating applicable three-dimensional (3D) embryo culture models. In this thesis, it is aimed to construct a 3D environment to promote the implantation of a blastocyst by providing an imitated natural profile of the endometrium in vitro. In relation with this objective, natural collagen sponges and artificial polymeric sponges were used as constructions covered with epithelial and stromal cells to mimic the endometrium itself. When the blastocysts were cultured with this newly created model, the expression of the implantation related genes and the morphological changes of the blastocyst were examined and compared. The experimental groups were designed as follows; routine IVF group which refers to the culture of embryo itself in a culture medium, blastocyst on collagen sponge coated with endometrium derived epithelial and stromal cells, blastocyst on artificial sponge covered with collagen under the endometrium derived epithelial and stromal cells and the sponge groups with cells but without blastocyst as control groups for 48 hours and 96 hours as incubation periods. As a final approach, it was expected to be a new impact to understand the complicated process of the embryo implantation and compose a 3D culture model that can be applicable for embryo transfers in ART. By this purpose, it is shown that usage of sponges with endometrial co – culture cells as 3D models is effective result to support implantation of an embryo more successfully.