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A Novel Use of Three-dimensional High-frequency Ultrasonography for Early Pregnancy Characterization in the Mouse
Published on: October 24, 2017
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Expression and function of Pdcd4 in mouse endometrium during early pregnancy
Yue Zhang1, Mingyun Ni1, Na Liu1
1Laboratory of Reproductive BiologySchool of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
Reproduction (Cambridge, England)
|February 21, 2018
Summary
Programmed cell death 4 (Pdcd4) gene expression decreases at embryo implantation sites, promoting decidualization. Downregulating Pdcd4 enhances this process, highlighting its role in successful mouse embryo implantation.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Developmental biology
- Cellular biology
Background:
- Embryo implantation requires synchronized interactions between the endometrium and blastocyst.
- Apoptosis is crucial for implantation and pregnancy maintenance.
- Programmed cell death 4 (Pdcd4) is a gene linked to apoptosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression pattern of Pdcd4 in the mouse endometrium during early pregnancy and pseudopregnancy.
- To determine the role of Pdcd4 in endometrial decidualization and embryo implantation.
Main Methods:
- Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)
- In situ hybridization
- Western blotting
- Immunohistochemistry
- In vivo and in vitro decidualization assays
Main Results:
- Pdcd4 expression increased with pregnancy progression but decreased significantly at implantation sites (IS) by day 5.
- Pdcd4 levels were lower at IS compared to interimplantation sites (IIS) on days 6 and 7.
- Pdcd4 expression decreased during induced decidualization.
- Downregulation of Pdcd4 promoted stromal cell decidualization, while upregulation increased apoptosis and inhibited decidualization.
Conclusions:
- Pdcd4 is involved in regulating stromal cell decidualization by mediating apoptosis.
- Pdcd4 plays a significant role in the process of embryo implantation in mice.
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