Ultrastructural Changes of the Trophoblast-Epithelial Complex in Mice Subjected to Implantation Blocking Treatment with Indomethacin

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Abstract
The implantation blocking effect of indomethacin on the trophoblast-epithelial complex in mice was studied ultrastructurally during experimentally delayed implantation 24 and 36 h after induction of implantation by estrogen. Indomethacin did not affect the early implantation changes of the blastocyst, i.e., activation and attachment of the trophoblast cells onto the uterine epithelium. Later, however, blastocyst degeneration occurred. The normal Pontamine Blue reaction and decidual changes of the stroma never appeared. The epithelial cells along the uterine lumen demonstrated indomethacin-induced uhtrastructural changes in the form of several large apical vesicles. These changes might indicate that the indomethacin-induced blockade of implantation lies at the uterine epithelial level and that indomethacin interferes with transmission of the signal from the blastocyst to the stroma.