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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Establishing 3D Endometrial Organoids from the Mouse Uterus
Published on: January 6, 2023
Uterine Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is required for implantation
Othman A Mohamed1, Maud Jonnaert, Cassandre Labelle-Dumais
1Department of Biology, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 1A1.
Abstract:
Successful implantation relies on precisely orchestrated and reciprocal signaling between the implanting blastocyst and the receptive uterus. We have examined the role of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway during the process of implantation and demonstrate that this pathway is activated during two distinct stages. Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is first transiently activated in circular smooth muscle forming a banding pattern of activity within the uterus on early day 4. Subsequently, activation is restricted to the luminal epithelium at the prospective site of implantation. Activation at both sites requires the presence of the blastocyst. Furthermore, inhibition of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling interferes with the process of implantation. Our results demonstrate that the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway plays a central role in coordinating uterus-embryo interactions required for implantation.
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