Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

In Vitro Fertilization

In Vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a form of assisted reproductive technology where an egg is fertilized with sperm in a controlled laboratory environment before transferring the resulting embryo into the uterus. This process is designed to help individuals and couples experiencing difficulties conceiving.
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, during which reproductive endocrinologists prescribe hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the single...

Cleavage and Blastulation

Cleavage and Blastulation

After a large-single-celled zygote is produced via fertilization, the process of cleavage occurs while zygotes travel through the uterine tube. Cleavage is a mitotic cell division that does not result in growth. With each round of successive cell division, daughter cells get increasingly smaller.

Fertilization

Fertilization

During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...

Proliferative Phase

Proliferative Phase

The proliferative phase typically occurs after menstruation and lasts between 6 to 13 days in a standard 28-day cycle. This phase involves the reconstruction of the endometrium, guided by estrogen produced by the developing ovarian follicle.
Notably, the stratum basale, the basal layer of the endometrium, including the basal parts of the uterine glands, remains unaffected by menstruation. Stem cells in this layer undergo mitosis, regenerating the stratum functionalis and thickening the...

Ovarian Cycle

Ovarian Cycle

The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is variable and averaging around 14 days. Ovulation, triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), marks the transition between the two phases. The second phase, the luteal phase, is relatively consistent, lasting approximately 14 days, and is marked by the activity of the corpus luteum. While a cycle length...

Uterus and Cervix

Uterus and Cervix

The uterus, commonly called the womb, is a vital reproductive organ in females designed to provide a nurturing environment for the implantation and growth of an embryo. It is shaped like a hollow pear and positioned between the urinary bladder and the rectum. The uterus's structure allows it to support and protect a developing fetus throughout pregnancy.
The uterus is securely anchored within the pelvic cavity by paired broad ligaments on either side. It is further stabilized by three pairs of...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Localization of ISG15 and TLR4 as potential immune modulators at the bovine uteroplacental interface during early gestation.

Placenta·2026

Same author

Cyphenothrin disrupts the integrity of porcine trophectoderm and uterine luminal epithelial cell lines by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Chemosphere·2026

Same author

Tolylfluanid induces mitochondrial dysfunction through excessive ROS generation and inhibits cell growth in bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Environmental toxicology and pharmacology·2026

Same author

Gestational Obesity Impairs Maternal Glucose Metabolism in Post-Partum Ewes.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2025

Same author

Uterine histotroph and conceptus development. V. Comparative analyses of arginine-mediated transcriptomic reprogramming in conceptus trophectoderm of pigs and sheep†.

Biology of reproduction·2025

Same author

Novel Aspects of the Physiology of Pregnancy in Domestic Ruminants.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Single Cell Collection of Trophoblast Cells in Peri-implantation Stage Human Embryos

Single Cell Collection of Trophoblast Cells in Peri-implantation Stage Human Embryos

Published on: June 12, 2020

Comparative aspects of implantation.

Fuller W Bazer¹, Thomas E Spencer, Greg A Johnson

¹Department of Animal Science Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, 2471 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-2471, USA. fbazer@cvm.tamu.edu

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)

|June 9, 2009

Summary

Successful mammalian embryo implantation requires progesterone to prepare the uterine lining. Uterine receptivity also involves interferon-stimulated genes crucial for pregnancy development.

More Related Videos

Establishment of an Embryo Implantation Model In Vitro

Establishment of an Embryo Implantation Model In Vitro

Published on: June 21, 2024

The Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Model as a Tool to Study Ovarian Tissue Transplantation

The Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Model as a Tool to Study Ovarian Tissue Transplantation

Published on: June 23, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Single Cell Collection of Trophoblast Cells in Peri-implantation Stage Human Embryos

Single Cell Collection of Trophoblast Cells in Peri-implantation Stage Human Embryos

Published on: June 12, 2020

Establishment of an Embryo Implantation Model In Vitro

Establishment of an Embryo Implantation Model In Vitro

Published on: June 21, 2024

The Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Model as a Tool to Study Ovarian Tissue Transplantation

The Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Model as a Tool to Study Ovarian Tissue Transplantation

Published on: June 23, 2023

Area of Science:

Reproductive biology
Developmental biology
Endocrinology

Background:

Mammalian embryo implantation is a complex process involving blastocyst hatching, apposition, adhesion, and potential invasion.
Successful implantation is essential for pregnancy recognition, placentation, and fetal development.
Hormonal regulation, particularly by progesterone, is critical for preparing the uterine environment.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the key molecular and hormonal events governing uterine receptivity for blastocyst implantation in mammals.
To understand the role of progesterone and interferon-stimulated genes in peri-implantation processes.

Main Methods:

Review and synthesis of existing literature on mammalian implantation and uterine receptivity.
Analysis of hormonal regulation (progesterone, estrogens) and gene expression patterns (interferon-stimulated genes) during implantation.

Main Results:

Progesterone (P4) downregulates its own receptors in uterine epithelia, facilitating implantation.
Interferon-stimulated genes are temporally and cell-specifically expressed, playing roles in nutrient transport, vascularization, and immune protection.
Species-specific variations exist in implantation strategies and hormonal signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

Uterine receptivity is a tightly regulated process involving progesterone and interferon-stimulated genes.
These molecular players orchestrate critical events from blastocyst adhesion to potential decidualization and immune tolerance.
Understanding these mechanisms is vital for addressing infertility and improving pregnancy outcomes.