Endometrial transcriptomic changes after application of seminal plasma: a randomized controlled trial

We hypothesized that seminal plasma, the acellular seminal fluid component, influences the endometrium stimulating the immune system and facilitating the implantation. We designed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, and we used microarray analysis to evaluate differences in the endometrial transcriptomic profile after vaginal seminal plasma application. Differential gene pathways analysis showed an upregulation of pathways associated with the immune response, cell viability, proliferation and cellular movement, implantation, embryo development, oocyte maturation and angiogenesis. We compared our results with similar studies in pigs, mice and in vitro human endometrial cells and found similar and found comparable results. Our data show that seminal plasma has a positive effect on the endometrium during the implantation window. 9 women without a male partner undergoing Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist long-protocol treatment at the fertility clinic were randomized into two treatment groups. 5 women received a vaginal application of seminal plasma and 4 received a placebo application with saline solution. The application of seminal plasma/placebo was performed inside the vagina 2 days after induced ovulation in a normal cycle. After 5-8 days, an endometrial biopsy was collected for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. Inclusion criteria: no male partner; age between 20 and 40 years old. Exclusion criteria: FSH outside the normal range 3-9 IU/L; genital infections; severe endometriosis; severe polycystic ovarian syndrome; chronic diseases.