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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
Establishment of an Embryo Implantation Model In Vitro
Published on: June 21, 2024
Effects of androgen on embryo implantation in the mouse delayed-implantation model
Hong-Lu Diao1, Ren-Wei Su, Hui-Ning Tan
1College of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Objective:
To examine the effects of androgen on implantation and decidualization in the mouse delayed-implantation model.
Design:
Experimental animal study.
Setting:
University research laboratory.
Animal(S):
Sexually mature female mice (Kunming White strain).
Intervention(S):
Delayed and activated implantation; pseudopregnancy; embryo transfer (ET); E(2) assay; inhibitor.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Effects of androgen on embryo implantation were determined by treating the mice under delayed implantation with different doses of testosterone propionate (TP); the effects of androgen on the expression of implantation-related genes were examined by in situ hybridization.
Result(S):
Delayed implantation could be initiated by TP. Dihydrotestosterone was also able to initiate implantation in the delayed-implantation model. The implantation window could be maintained for at least 48 hours by 5 mg TP per mouse. Prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 (Ptgs2) and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase (mPtges) were aberrantly expressed in mouse uterus at implantation sites after delayed implantation was activated by high doses of TP.
Conclusion(S):
A low dose of TP led to a delay in embryo implantation, but a high dose caused aberrant expression of both Ptgs2 and mPtges at the implantation site. It is possible that high doses of TP may disturb peri-implantation development or may be involved in early pregnancy loss by disturbing the uterine prostaglandin system.
