Dynamic changes in stanniocalcin gene expression in the mouse uterus during early implantation

Blastocyst implantation is accompanied by dramatic changes in gene expression to facilitate decidualization and remodelling of uterine architecture. Stanniocalcin (STC) is a new mammalian polypeptide hormone with roles in ion transport, reproduction and development. Here we report dynamic changes in STC mRNA and protein distributions in the early post-implantation mouse uterus. In the non-pregnant state, STC gene expression was confined to the uterine lumenal epithelium. Following implantation STC gene expression shifted to mesometrial stromal cells bordering the uterine lumen. Between E6.5-E8.5 expression shifted once more to cells of the mesometrial lateral sinusoids, and then declined thereafter. Intriguingly immunoreactive STC did not entirely co-localize with areas of high STC gene activity and instead appeared to accumulate in presumptive targets of the hormone (uterine epithelium, stromal and decidual cells, trophoblastic giant cells). STC is only the fourth gene identified as being expressed mesometrially in the uterus following implantation.