Profiling of E-cadherin, beta-catenin and Ca(2+) in embryo-uterine interactions at implantation

Establishment of early pregnancy is promoted by a complex network of signalling molecules that mediate cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix communications between the receptive endometrium and the invasive trophectoderm. In this study, we have attempted to evaluate the expression profiles of cadherin and catenin during embryo implantation in the mouse. Western blotting studies along with immunocytochemical analysis revealed that E-cadherin is expressed rather ubiquitously in the uterine epithelial cells, distinct enrichment is observed on the apical membrane in the endometrium of peri-implantation uterus specifically at the implantation sites and not at the inter-implanation sites. beta-Catenin also is upregulated and is specifically restricted to apical membrane of epithelial cells of implantation sites. Progesterone induced expression of E-cadherin and 17beta-estradiol regulated the expression of catenin in implantation-delayed uteri. Interestingly, estradiol imparted negative modulation on cadherin expression when co-administered with progesterone. On the contrary, trophoblast exhibits a striking down regulation of cadherin, catenin and Ca(2+) at peri implanting stage. These observations suggest that the trophoblasts exhibited an invasive phenotype while the endometrial epithelium displayed an adhesive phenotype during the window of implantation. Thus, embryo implantation presents an instance where two interacting surfaces showed mutually complementing interaction phenotypes.