Molecular Research in Embryo Implantation

Dear Colleagues,

The probability that a human embryo can have a successful implantation in the uterus that leads to the live birth of a healthy baby is determined by embryo quality, endometrial/uterine receptivity, and maternal/paternal genetic, epigenetic or environmental factors. While the genetic understanding of human embryo quality has improved, the interaction between human embryo and endometrium before, during and after implantation is still poorly understood. Furthermore, it is not clear if and how the human embryo actively influences/activates the endometrium in promoting or rejecting implantation, or vice versa, and how maternal–fetal tolerance is achieved and maintained during early pregnancy. In the context of clinical treatment with medically assisted reproduction, it is not well understood if and how different medicinal products used for ovarian stimulation, ovulation triggering, and hormonal luteal phase support directly affect and influence human ovarian and endometrial function, receptivity and embryo implantation.  

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences invites authors to submit original research or review papers that provide novel concepts, based on human, animal and in vitro molecular, translational or pre-clinical research, to improve our understanding of (immune)biology of human endometrial receptivity, embryo implantation and implantation failure, novel approaches to enhance endometrial receptivity supporting embryo implantation and reducing risk of miscarriage, and novel approaches to support effective ovulation and luteal ovarian function before and after conception during infertility treatment. Please notice that data on molecular mechanisms or pathophysiology are essential, and papers that only contain clinical trials/data are not acceptable.

Prof. Dr. Thomas D'Hooghe
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.