scholarly journals Polyamines Are Essential in Embryo Implantation: Expression and Function of Polyamine-Related Genes in Mouse Uterus during Peri-Implantation Period

Endocrinology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 149 (5) ◽  
pp. 2325-2332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue-Chao Zhao ◽  
Yu-Jing Chi ◽  
Yong-Sheng Yu ◽  
Ji-Long Liu ◽  
Ren-Wei Su ◽  
...  

Polyamines are key regulators in cell growth and differentiation. It has been shown that ornithine decarboxylase (Odc) was essential for post-implantation embryo development, and overexpression of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase will lead to ovarian hypofunction and hypoplastic uteri. However, the expression and function of polyamine-related genes in mouse uterus during early pregnancy are still unknown. In this study we investigated the expression, regulation, and function of polyamine-related genes in mouse uterus during the peri-implantation period. Odc expression was strongly detected at implantation sites and stimulated by estrogen treatment. The expression of Odc antizyme 1 and spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase was also highly shown at implantation sites and regulated by Odc or polyamine level in uterine cells. Embryo implantation was significantly inhibited by α-difluoromethylornithine, an Odc inhibitor. Moreover, the reduction of Odc activity caused by α-difluoromethylornithine treatment was compensated by the up-regulation of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase gene expression. Collectively, our results indicated that the coordinated expression of uterine polyamine-related genes may be important for embryo implantation.

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 1681-1695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dang-Dang Li ◽  
Liang Yue ◽  
Zhan-Qing Yang ◽  
Lian-Wen Zheng ◽  
Bin Guo

Background/Aims: Hmgn2 is involved in regulating embryonic development, but its physiological function during embryo implantation and decidualization remains unknown. Methods: In situ hybridization, real-time PCR, RNA interference, gene overexpression and MTS assay were used to examine the expression of Hmgn2 in mouse uterus during the pre-implantation period and explore its function and regulatory mechanisms in epithelial adhesion junction and stromal cell proliferation and differentiation. Results: Hmgn2 was primarily accumulated in uterine luminal epithelia on day 4 of pregnancy and subluminal stromal cells around the implanting blastocyst at implantation sites on day 5. Similar results were observed during delayed implantation and activation. Meanwhile, Hmgn2 expression was visualized in the decidua. In uterine epithelial cells, silencing of Hmgn2 by specific siRNA reduced the expression of adhesion molecules Cdh1, Cdh2 and Ctnnb1 and enhanced the expression of Muc1, whereas constitutive activation of Hmgn2 exhibited the opposite effects, suggesting a role for Hmgn2 in attachment reaction during embryo implantation. Estrogen stimulated the expression of Hmgn2 in uterine epithelia, but the stimulation was abrogated by ER antagonist ICI 182,780. Further analysis evidenced that attenuation of Hmgn2 might eliminate the regulation of estrogen on the expression of Cdh1, Cdh2 and Ctnnb1. In uterine stromal cells, progesterone induced the accumulation of Hmgn2 which advanced the expression of Prl8a2 and Prl3c1, two well-known differentiation markers for decidualization, but did not affect the proliferation of stromal cells. Knockdown of Hmgn2 blocked the progesterone-induced differentiation of uterine stromal cells. Moreover, Hmgn2 might serve as an intermediate to mediate the regulation of progesterone on Hand2. Conclusion: Hmgn2 may play an important role during embryo implantation and decidualization.


Reproduction ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianrong Qi ◽  
Yifan Yang ◽  
Kailin Wu ◽  
Qingzhen Xie

Recent studies revealed that TMEM16A is involved in several reproductive processes, including ovarian estrogen secretion and ovulation, sperm motility and acrosome reaction, fertilization, and myometrium contraction. However, little is known about the expression and function of TMEM16A in embryo implantation and decidualization. In this study, we focused on the expression and regulation of TMEM16A in mouse uterus during early pregnancy. We found that TMEM16A is up-regulated in uterine endometrium in response to embryo implantation and decidualization. Progesterone treatment could induce TMEM16A expression in endometrial stromal cells through progesterone receptor/c-Myc pathway, which is blocked by progesterone receptor antagonist or the inhibitor of c-Myc signaling pathway. Inhibition of TMEM16A by small molecule inhibitor (T16Ainh-A01) resulted in impaired embryo implantation and decidualization in mice. Treatment with either specific siRNA of Tmem16a or T16Ainh-A01 inhibited the decidualization and proliferation of mouse endometrial stromal cells. In conclusion, our results revealed that TMEM16A is involved in embryo implantation and decidualization in mice, compromised function of TMEM16A may lead to impaired embryo implantation and decidualization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 5177
Author(s):  
Yi Yang ◽  
Jia-Peng He ◽  
Ji-Long Liu

As a crucial step for human reproduction, embryo implantation is a low-efficiency process. Despite rapid advances in recent years, the molecular mechanism underlying embryo implantation remains poorly understood. Here, we used the mouse as an animal model and generated a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of embryo implantation sites. By analyzing inter-implantation sites of the uterus as control, we were able to identify global gene expression changes associated with embryo implantation in each cell type. Additionally, we predicted signaling interactions between uterine luminal epithelial cells and mural trophectoderm of blastocysts, which represent the key mechanism of embryo implantation. We also predicted signaling interactions between uterine epithelial-stromal crosstalk at implantation sites, which are crucial for post-implantation development. Our data provide a valuable resource for deciphering the molecular mechanism underlying embryo implantation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 668-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Qian Zhang ◽  
Miao Zhao ◽  
Ming-Yu Huang ◽  
Ji-Long Liu

Background/Aims: Embryo implantation is an essential process for eutherian pregnancy, but this process varies across eutherians. The genomic mechanisms that led to the emergence and diversification of embryo implantation are largely unknown. Methods: In this study, we analyzed transcriptomic changes during embryo implantation in mice and rats by using RNA-seq. Bioinformatics and evolutionary analyses were performed to characterize implantation-associated genes in these two species. Results: We identified a total of 518 differentially expressed genes in mouse uterus during implantation, of which 253 genes were up-regulated and 265 genes were down-regulated at the implantation sites compared with the inter-implantation sites. In rat uterus, there were 374 differentially expressed genes, of which 284 genes were up-regulated and 90 genes were down-regulated. A cross-species comparison revealed that 92 up-regulated genes and 20 down-regulated genes were shared. The differences and similarities between mice and rats were investigated further at the gene ontology, pathway, network, and causal transcription factor levels. Additionally, we found that embryo implantation might have evolved through the recruitment of ancient genes into uterine expression. The evolutionary rates of the differentially expressed genes in mouse and rat uterus were significantly lower than those of the non-changed genes, indicating that implantation-related genes are evolutionary conserved due to high selection pressure. Conclusion: Our study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in the evolution of embryo implantation.


Reproduction ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 147 (6) ◽  
pp. 765-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anubha Joshi ◽  
Sahil Mahfooz ◽  
Vineet Kumar Maurya ◽  
Vijay Kumar ◽  
Chadchan Sangappa Basanna ◽  
...  

Pregnancy requires successful implantation of an embryo, which occurs during a restricted period defined as ‘receptivity of the endometrium’ and is influenced by the ovarian steroids progesterone and oestradiol. The role of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP1) in apoptosis is well established. However, it is also involved in cell differentiation, proliferation and tissue remodelling. Previous studies have described the presence of PARP in the uterus, but its exact role in embryo implantation is not yet elucidated. Hence, in this study, we studied the expression of PARP1 in the uterus during embryo implantation and decidualisation, and its regulation by ovarian steroids. Our results show upregulation of the native form of PARP1 (∼116 kDa) in the cytosolic and nuclear compartments of implantation and non-implantation sites at day 5 (0500 h), followed by downregulation at day 5 (1000 h), during the embryo implantation period. The transcript level of Parp1 was also augmented during day 5 (0500 h). Inhibition of PARP1 activity by the drug EB-47 decreased the number of embryo implantation sites and blastocysts at day 5 (1000 h). Further, cleavage of native PARP1 was due to the activity of caspase-3 during the peri-implantation stage (day 5 (0500 h)), and is also required for embryo implantation, as inhibition of its activity compromised blastocyst implantation. The native (∼116 kDa) and cleaved (∼89 kDa) forms of PARP1 were both elevated during decidualisation of the uterus. Furthermore, the expression level of PARP1 in the uterus was found to be under the control of the hormone oestrogen. Our results clearly demonstrate that PARP1 participates in the process of embryo implantation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 234 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Liu ◽  
Fei Gao ◽  
Yue-Fang Liu ◽  
Hai-Ting Dou ◽  
Jia-Qi Yan ◽  
...  

Embryo implantation and decidualization are key steps for successful reproduction. Although numerous factors have been identified to be involved in embryo implantation and decidualization, the mechanisms underlying these processes are still unclear. Based on our preliminary data, Prss56, a trypsin-like serine protease, is strongly expressed at implantation site in mouse uterus. However, the expression, regulation and function of Prss56 during early pregnancy are still unknown. In mouse uterus, Prss56 is strongly expressed in the subluminal stromal cells at implantation site on day 5 of pregnancy compared to inter-implantation site. Under delayed implantation, Prss56 expression is undetected. After delayed implantation is activated by estrogen, Prss56 is obviously induced at implantation site. Under artificial decidualization, Prss56 signal is seen at the primary decidual zone at the initial stage of artificial decidualization. When stromal cells are induced for in vitro decidualization, Prss56 expression is significantly elevated. Dtprp expression under in vitro decidualization is suppressed by Prss56 siRNA. In cultured stromal cells, HB-EGF markedly stimulates Prss56 expression through EGFR/ERK pathway. Based on promoter analysis, we also showed that Egr2 is involved in Prss56 regulation by HB-EGF. Collectively, Prss56 expression at implantation site is modulated by HB-EGF/EGFR/ERK signaling pathway and involved in mouse decidualization.


2014 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Filant ◽  
Franco J. DeMayo ◽  
James K. Pru ◽  
John P. Lydon ◽  
Thomas E. Spencer

Abstract Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) regulate luminal epithelial (LE) cell proliferation in the adult mouse uterus. This study tested the hypothesis that FGFR2 has a biological role in postnatal development and function of the uterus by conditionally deletingFgfr2 after birth using progesterone receptor (Pgr)-Cre mice. AdultFgfr2 mutant female mice were initially subfertile and became infertile with increasing parity. No defects in uterine gland development were observed in conditionalFgfr2 mutant mice. In the adult,Fgfr2 mutant mice possessed a histologically normal reproductive tract with the exception of the uterus. The LE of theFgfr2 mutant uterus was stratified, but no obvious histological differences were observed in the glandular epithelium, stroma, or myometrium. Within the stratified LE, cuboidal basal cells were present and positive for basal cell markers (KRT14 and TRP63). Nulliparous bredFgfr2 mutants contained normal numbers of blastocysts on Day 3.5 postmating, but the number of embryo implantation sites was substantially reduced on Day 5.5 postmating. These results support the idea that loss of FGFR2 in the uterus after birth alters its development, resulting in LE stratification and peri-implantation pregnancy loss.


2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lois A. Salamonsen ◽  
Guiying Nie ◽  
Eva Dimitriadis ◽  
Lorraine Robb ◽  
Jock K. Findlay

The endometrium is normally a hostile environment for an embryo, except for a short phase in each reproductive cycle known as the ‘window of receptivity’. The precise molecular events involved in this transformation are not well understood. Application of state-of-the-art techniques of the 1990s has identified some of the genes involved, which are reviewed here. Mice with a null mutation in either the gene for leukemia inhibitory factor or the interleukin-11 receptor α chain are infertile, owing in both cases to a failure of embryo implantation. Both of these genes are expressed in the human endometrium with patterns suggesting a role in human fertility. The technique of RNA differential display has been applied to a comparison of the expression of genes at implantation sites v. inter-implantation sites in the mouse uterus on the first day of implantation, and has defined additional genes whose products may be important for this process. Among these are the calcium-binding protein D9K, the monoclonal non-specific suppressor factor β , and the splicing factor SC35. The major challenge is to determine whether manipulation of such genes can increase or decrease endometrial receptivity in humans.


2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (17) ◽  
pp. 6571-6583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atish Mukherjee ◽  
Selma M. Soyal ◽  
Rodrigo Fernandez-Valdivia ◽  
Martine Gehin ◽  
Pierre Chambon ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Although the essential involvement of the progesterone receptor (PR) in female reproductive tissues is firmly established, the coregulators preferentially enlisted by PR to mediate its physiological effects have yet to be fully delineated. To further dissect the roles of members of the steroid receptor coactivator (SRC)/p160 family in PR-mediated reproductive processes in vivo, state-of-the-art cre-loxP engineering strategies were employed to generate a mouse model (PR Cre/+ SRC-2 flox/flox) in which SRC-2 function was abrogated only in cell lineages that express the PR. Fertility tests revealed that while ovarian activity was normal, PR Cre/+ SRC-2 flox/flox mouse uterine function was severely compromised. Absence of SRC-2 in PR-positive uterine cells was shown to contribute to an early block in embryo implantation, a phenotype not shared by SRC-1 or -3 knockout mice. In addition, histological and molecular analyses revealed an inability of the PR Cre/+ SRC-2 flox/flox mouse uterus to undergo the necessary cellular and molecular changes that precede complete P-induced decidual progression. Moreover, removal of SRC-1 in the PR Cre/+ SRC-2 flox/flox mouse uterus resulted in the absence of a decidual response, confirming that uterine SRC-2 and -1 cooperate in P-initiated transcriptional programs which lead to full decidualization. In the case of the mammary gland, whole-mount and histological analysis disclosed the absence of significant ductal side branching and alveologenesis in the hormone-treated PR Cre/+ SRC-2 flox/flox mammary gland, reinforcing an important role for SRC-2 in cellular proliferative changes that require PR. We conclude that SRC-2 is appropriated by PR in a subset of transcriptional cascades obligate for normal uterine and mammary morphogenesis and function.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 227
Author(s):  
E. Dimitriadis ◽  
C. Stoikos ◽  
M. Baca ◽  
W. Fairlie ◽  
A. D. Uboldi ◽  
...  

Embryo implantation is a critical step in the establishment of pregnancy. Endometrial leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is essential for embryo implantation in the mouse (1). Uterine LIF is expressed in the luminal epithelium on Day 3 of pregnancy (D3) (D0�=�day of plug detection) and signals via activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) 3 (2). We examined the effect of a novel LIF signalling inhibitor on the phosphorylation (p) of Stat3 during early pregnancy and on embryo implantation in the mouse. We injected LIF inhibitor into one uterine horn and PBS into the other uterine horn of the mouse at D3 and examined the effect on pStat3 immunostaining in the luminal epithelium between 30 and 360�min later. We found no immunoreactive pStat3 in luminal epithelium following treatment with LIF inhibitor at 60 and 90�min but variable staining at other time points. The PBS-treated uterine horn showed intense immunostaining at all times. LIF inhibitor (1mg/kg body weight per day) or PBS was administered to mice (a) subcutaneously, (b) intraperitoneally, at 8-hourly intervals for 3�days from D2, or (c) continuously into the peritoneal cavity via Alzet pumps from D2. No effect was seen on implantation at D6. When LIF antagonist (3.5mg/kg/day) or PBS were administered by Alzet pumps from D2 together with ip injections, 4-hourly from D3 for 36�h, there were no implantation sites in the uteri of treated mice (n�=�5) while the control mice (n�=�4) had 3.6���0.5�sites (P�<�0.001). Histologically, the uteri of the treated mice resembled non-pregnant uterus, while the control uterus resembled post-implantation uterus. The results demonstrate that treatment of mice during early pregnancy with a novel LIF inhibitor blocks LIF action in vivo and embryo implantation. This knowledge is important for development of novel contraceptives. (1) Stewart, C. L., Kaspar, P., Brunet, L. J., Bhatt, H., Gadi, I., Kontgen, F., Abbondanzo, S. J. (1992) Nature 359, 76–79. (2) Cheng, J. G., Chen, J. R., Hernandez, L., Alvord, W. G., Stewart, C. L. (2001) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 98, 8680–8685.


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