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Genes have been discovered that determine the effectiveness of artificial insemination
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
Having certain genes that are responsible for the development of uterine receptivity may improve pregnancy rates during in vitro fertilization (IVF-ET).
Scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center focused on the genes Msx1 and Msx2, which play an important role in the formation of the uterus during embryonic development and ensure that the organ is in the receptive phase. Sudhansu K. Dey, director of the Division of Reproductive Sciences at Cincinnati Hospital Perinatal Institute, said that reduced uterine receptivity is one of the main reasons for pregnancy failure in IVF programs.
As is known, the success rate of IVF does not exceed the 30% barrier, in addition, with artificial insemination, the risk of premature birth is increased. Premature birth can lead to various potential risks to the health of the child in the short and long term, but molecular signaling mechanisms during critical stages of early pregnancy in IVF patients open the door to finding new approaches to improve pregnancy outcomes.
The results of this study provide opportunities for physicians to develop new strategies to improve implantation rates in IVF programs by temporarily increasing Msx levels. This could potentially widen the uterine “window of receptivity,” increasing the time for embryo implantation.
The scientists determined in a series of experiments that loss of Msx genes has negative reproductive consequences by disrupting the Wnt molecular signaling pathways that play a key role in embryo development. Due to the loss of Msx, uterine epithelial cells respond abnormally and fail to develop nidation sites necessary for successful embryo implantation.
The level of readiness of the uterus for implantation directly depends on the number of Msx genes. The absence of one Msx1 gene leads to a significant deterioration in the conditions for successful fertilization, while the removal of both Msx1 and Msx2 genes leads to complete infertility due to the impossibility of implantation of the embryo into the uterine epithelium.
Scientists have found that Msx genes maintain uterine receptivity without changing the uterine sensitivity to ovarian hormones. Msx genes may be used to develop drugs that increase the effectiveness of IVF.
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