Abstract
Progesterone is required for the establishment and maintenance of mammalian pregnancy and widely used for conservative treatment of luteal phase deficiency in clinics. However, there are limited solid evidences available for the optimal timing and dose of progesterone therapy, especially for the possible adverse effects on implantation and decidualization when progesterone is administrated empirically. In our study, mouse models were used to examine effects of excess progesterone on embryo implantation and decidualization. Our data indicate that excess progesterone is not only harmful for mouse implantation, but also impairs mouse decidualization. In excess progesterone-treated mice, the impaired LIF/STAT3 pathway and dysregulated endoplasmic reticulum stress may lead to the inhibition of embryo implantation and decidualization. It is possible that the decrease in birth weight of excess progesterone-treated mice is due to a compromised embryo implantation and decidualization. Furthermore, excess progesterone compromises in vitro decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells.