小鼠围着床期子宫内膜甲基化CpG结合域蛋白2的表达规律

为研究甲基化CpG结合域蛋白2（methyl-CpG binding domain protein 2,MBD2）在围植入期小鼠子宫内膜的表达规律,通过采用实时荧光定量PCR（Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR,qPCR）、Western blot和免疫组化技术检测未孕小鼠（d0）和不同孕天小鼠子宫MBD2的表达情况。qPCR结果显示,d0至d7的小鼠子宫内膜组织均有MBD2 mRNA表达,在d5至d7高表达。MBD2蛋白在子宫内膜的表达规律与qPCR结果相符。MBD2蛋白在孕d1到d4中度表达于腔上皮、腺上皮和基质细胞,在d5至d7基质细胞表达增强,主要表达于蜕膜区。假孕小鼠子宫内膜中,MBD2在腔上皮、腺上皮和基质细胞中中度表达,d5至d7基质细胞表达明显减弱。动物模型中,宫角注射MBD2基因反义寡聚脱氧核苷酸,可抑制MBD2的表达,降低人工诱导蜕膜化反应和蜕膜化标志物PRL的表达。MBD2在早孕小鼠子宫内膜的表达模式提示其可能参与了蜕膜化过程。     

早孕小鼠子宫内膜M2型丙酮酸激酶基因表达的研究

该研究分析了M2型丙酮酸激酶(pyruvate kinase M2,PKM2)基因在早孕小鼠子宫内膜的表达规律。通过建立正常妊娠小鼠模型,收集孕D1、D4、D5、D6、D7小鼠子宫内膜组织及孕D5小鼠着床点及着床旁子宫内膜组织。构建假孕小鼠模型,收集假孕PD1、PD4、PD5、PD6和PD7小鼠子宫内膜组织。用Real-time PCR和Western blot方法检测PKM2 m RNA和蛋白质表达水平;免疫组织化学方法检测PKM2蛋白质在孕D5着床点与着床旁子宫内膜的分布。研究结果显示,在正常妊娠小鼠子宫内膜,PKM2 m RNA表达从孕D5开始出现明显升高,孕D6达高峰,孕D7略有下降,孕D6、孕D7与孕D1相比有明显差异。PKM2蛋白质从孕D6开始出现明显升高,孕D7略有下降,孕D6、孕D7与孕D1相比有明显差异。假孕小鼠子宫内膜PKM2 m RNA水平从PD6开始有明显升高,PD7与PD6水平相当,PD6、PD7与PD1相比有明显差异。PKM2蛋白质水平每两组间无明显差异。孕D5小鼠子宫内膜组织中,PKM2 m RNA及蛋白质水平均呈现着床点明显高于着床旁趋势。该研究初步揭示了PKM2基因在早孕小鼠子宫内膜表达规律,为深入探讨PKM2在维持早孕小鼠子宫内膜正常功能的机制上的作用提供了重要线索。     

自噬抑制剂3-MA对围着床期小鼠子宫胚胎着床的影响

该文探索了自噬抑制剂3-MA对围着床期小鼠子宫胚胎着床的影响。将成年昆明雌性小鼠随机分为对照组、3-MA低剂量组(15 mmol/L)和3-MA高剂量组(30 mmol/L)。自小鼠孕D1起,腹腔注射自噬抑制剂3-MA,直到处死,以腹腔注射PBS作为对照。收集孕D4、D5、D6子宫内膜组织,Western blot检测自噬抑制剂3-MA注射后自噬相关因子Atg5和LC3蛋白表达,形态学观察对照组和3-MA自噬抑制剂组胚胎着床点数量。Real-time PCR检测Cathepsin B、P62、孕激素受体(PR)和雌激素受体α(ERα)m RNA在孕D5子宫内膜的表达。免疫组化检测PR在孕D5子宫内膜的表达。结果显示,在自噬抑制剂3-MA的作用下,自噬相关因子Atg5、LC3蛋白在孕D4~D6小鼠子宫中的表达量明显降低,Cathepsin B、P62 m RNA在孕D5小鼠子宫中的表达显著降低。注射3-MA自噬抑制剂后,孕D6小鼠着床点(IS)数量比正常组明显减少。在孕D5小鼠子宫内膜着床旁(IIS)和着床点中,自噬抑制剂3-MA干预组PR的蛋白质表达量明显降低,PR和ERαm RNA表达量均显著降低,随着3-MA抑制剂剂量的升高,PR和ERαm RNA表达降低得更显著。结果表明,自噬抑制剂3-MA可能会对小鼠胚胎着床时子宫内膜容受性产生影响,其机制有待进一步研究。     

NF-κB在小鼠胚胎着床前植入期子宫内膜的表达研究

核转录因子NF-κB(nuclear factor of kappa B)是参与炎症反应的重要转录因子,而胚胎着床这一生理过程类似于炎症反应。该研究通过Real-time PCR、Western blot以及免疫组织化学等方法检测了妊娠小鼠孕第1天(d1)至第5天(d5)子宫内膜NF-κB的表达情况,并通过ELISA方法检测了妊娠小鼠(孕d1~d5)血清中白细胞介素-6(interleukin-6,IL-6)与肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)的含量。研究发现,NF-κB于孕d1开始表达,且随着妊娠天数的增加表达呈现逐渐上升的趋势,其m RNA水平与蛋白质水平相一致。NF-κB在孕d5于子宫内膜表达着床点高于着床旁,而在假孕小鼠子宫内膜中NF-κB的表达低于真孕组,炎症因子IL-6与TNF-α的含量也随妊娠天数的增加表达逐渐上升。该研究结果表明,NF-κB可能通过炎症反应的过程参与了胚胎着床这一生理过程。     

早孕小鼠子宫内膜钙网蛋白的表达规律

采用RT-PCR、间接免疫荧光组织化学、Western 印迹及原位杂交技术分别检测未孕(d0)和妊娠d1、d2、d3、d4、d5、d6、d7天小鼠子宫内膜中钙网蛋白(calreticulin, CRT)的表达规律, 探讨CRT在胚胎着床中的作用.结果显示CRT mRNA在妊娠小鼠子宫内膜中的表达明显高于未孕小鼠(P <0.05), 且随着妊娠天数的增加呈逐渐增强的趋势.间接免役荧光组织化学结果显示CRT表达于子宫内膜基质细胞、腺上皮以及腔上皮, 并在妊娠第4、5天基质细胞的胞浆中呈现高峰.实验结果提示, CRT在妊娠早期子宫内膜的持续表达, 可能通过调节整合素介导的细胞信号通路而调节胚胎滋养层细胞的黏附、侵袭, 参与胚胎着床.     

PTEN在早孕小鼠子宫内膜的表达及其对胚泡着床的影响

本研究旨存检测肿瘤抑制基因PTEN(phosphatase andtensinhomologdeletedonchromosometen)在早孕小鼠子宫内膜中的表达规律,探讨PTEN在小鼠胚胎着床过程中的作用.采用实时荧光定量聚合酶联反应(real.time fluorescent quantitative PCR.FQ.PCR)和免疫组织化学方法分别检测未孕及孕1、3、4、5、7 d小鼠子宫内膜PTEN mRNA和蛋白的表达;子宫角注射PTEN反义寡核苷酸观察胚泡着床数.FQ-PCR结果显示,妊娠小鼠子宫内膜组织PTENmRNA的表达高于未妊娠小鼠,且随着妊娠天数的增加表达逐渐增强,到妊娠第5天达最高.免疫组织化学分析显示,PTEN蛋白在子宫内膜的表达规律与mRNA结果一致.子宫角注射PTEN反义寡核苷酸后胚泡着床数明显减少.结果提示,PTEN在妊娠早期子宫内膜持续表达,可能参与了胚泡着床.     

早孕小鼠子宫内膜mTOR基因表达增高

利用实时荧光定量PCR、原位杂交法、免疫组化(SP法)和Western印迹法分别检测未孕、假孕及孕d3、d4、d5、d6、d7小鼠子宫内膜哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mammalian tar get of rapamycin,mTOR)mRNA和蛋白质的表达,研究mTOR基因在早孕小鼠子宫内膜的表达规律.结果显示妊娠子宫内膜组织mTOR的表达较未妊娠的子宫内膜组织显著增加(P＜0.05);着床窗期表达最高(d4,d5),且与其他妊娠各期比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);原位杂交和免疫组化分析显示mTOR mRNA和蛋白质表达主要在子宫内膜基质细胞,与上皮细胞各组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).研究表明mTOR在子宫内膜基质细胞的规律性表达所调控的细胞生长、增殖和分化可能是胚胎正常着床的分子机制之一.     

环状RNA circCapzb在早孕小鼠围植入期子宫内膜中的表达

环状RNA(circular RNA,circRNA)是一类新型内源性非编码RNA,与多种疾病的发生、发展密切相关,但在胚胎着床的过程中罕见报道。该文旨在探讨环状RNA circCapzb在早孕小鼠围植入期子宫内膜中的表达。采用Real-time PCR检测正常妊娠小鼠孕第5天(d5)至第7天(d7)胚胎着床点及胚胎着床旁组织中circCapzb的表达水平;分别构建小鼠体内人工诱导蜕膜化模型和原代小鼠子宫内膜基质细胞体外人工诱导蜕膜化模型,采用Real-time PCR分别检测circCapzb在组织及细胞蜕膜化诱导模型中的表达;通过生物信息学预测circCapzb下游靶miRNA:miR-377-3p和miR-7005-5p,并采用Real-time PCR检测其在蜕膜化诱导模型中的表达。结果表明,circCapzb在小鼠孕第5天至第7天胚胎着床点的表达明显高于着床旁;circCapzb在组织及体内外细胞蜕膜化诱导模型中诱导组的表达明显高于未诱导组(对照组);circCapzb下游靶miR-377-3p和miR-7005-5p在组织及体内外细胞蜕膜化诱导模型中诱导组的表达明显低于未诱导组。该研究初步表明,circCapzb在小鼠早孕期胚胎着床点高表达,在组织及体内外细胞蜕膜化诱导模型中高表达,在小鼠妊娠早期子宫内膜蜕膜化过程中可能发挥作用,但具体机制有待进一步研究。     

腺病毒E4启动子结合蛋白-4(E4BP4)基因在小鼠胚胎着床期间子宫组织中的表达

腺病毒E4启动子结合蛋白-4(E4BP4)是哺乳动物细胞核内的一种碱性亮氨酸拉链(bZIP)型转录因子,参与调控细胞的存活和增殖。前期研究表明,它在孕第5天的小鼠着床位点有明显的高表达。本文分别应用Northem blot、in situ杂交、Western blot和免疫组织化学技术,对E4BP4基因在小鼠妊娠初始期子宫、着床期胚胎着床位点和非着床位点的表达情况进行了研究。观察发现：在小鼠妊娠初始期,E4BP4基因在子宫组织中的表达逐步上调;至胚胎着床期间,其在胚胎着床位点的表达水平进一步提高,并明显高于非着床位点;该基因的表达不依赖于胚胎,人工蜕膜化可诱导其表达：E4BP4 mRNA和E4BP4蛋白分子都主要分布于子宫腔周围的基质细胞和蜕膜细胞。上述结果提示E4BP4基因可能通过促进着床位点基质细胞的增殖和抑制蜕膜细胞的凋亡而参与胚胎着床过程的调控。     

Wnt3a在小鼠孤雌胚胎及正常胚胎早期着床部位的表达变化

目的研究小鼠孤雌激活胚胎和体内正常发育胚胎在子宫中发生着床过程时,在早期着床部位上Wnt3a信号分子的表达变化。方法运用免疫组织化学染色法比较受体子宫中的孤雌胚胎着床位点和体内正常发育胚胎着床位点上Wnt3a的表达状况。结果免疫组织化学染色结果发现:(1)在着床期怀孕第5.5天和6.5天,受体子宫中孤雌胚胎的着床位点处和体内正常发育胚胎的着床位点处,Wnt3a在两种子宫上的表达情况相似,而在两种胚胎上的表达情况不同;(2)Wnt3a信号在空怀假孕母鼠子宫上表达情况与相同怀孕期有正常胚胎着床的子宫上的表达情况相似。结论胚胎着床与否及胚胎正常与否均不影响Wnt3a在小鼠早期着床期子宫上的表达,但在怀孕第5.5天和6.5天时孤雌激活胚胎和体内正常发育胚胎上Wnt3a的表达有差异。     

GRP78 expression and regulation in the mouse uterus during embryo implantation

The aim of this study was to investigate the spatiotemporal expression and regulation of GRP78 in the mouse uterus during the peri-implantation period. The GRP78 protein was mainly detected in the luminal and glandular epithelia on days 1–4 of pregnancy. On day 5 of pregnancy, the GRP78 protein was more highly observed around the implanted embryo at the implantation site. There was no detectable GRP78 protein signal on day 5 of pseudopregnancy. GRP78 mRNA and protein levels gradually increased on days 6–8 of pregnancy, and the expression pattern was also expanded, coinciding with the development of decidua. Similarly, GRP78 expression was also strongly expressed in decidualised cells following artificial decidualisation. Compared with the results obtained with the delayed uterus, a high level of GRP78 expression was detected in the implantation-activated uterus. In the uteri of ovariectomised mice, GRP78 expression increased and reached its highest level after injection of oestrogen, and progesterone seemed to have an antagonistic effect on oestrogen up-regulation of GRP78 expression. Our data indicate that GRP78 might play an important role during the process of mouse embryo implantation, and GRP78 expression was mainly regulated by active blastocysts and maternal oestrogen.     

Temporal and spatial expression of leukemia inhibitory factor in rabbit uterus during early pregnancy

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) has been shown to play an important role in the implantation of mouse blastocysts. The present study was designed to document the appearance of LIF in the rabbit uterus during early pregnancy and to determine whether changes just prior to implantation, similar to those in mice, occurred. LIF was localized in endometrial epithelium, myometrium, and endometrial glands. A low level of LIF was detected in the uterus of nonestrous and estrous females. LIF expression reached its highest level on day 5 of pregnancy and declined on days 6 and 7. By day 13 of pregnancy, little endometrial LIF was apparent. The expression of LIF on day 5 of pseudopregnancy was similar to that on day 5 of pregnancy. LIF expression was much higher at implantation sites than that at nonimplantation areas on day 7 of pregnancy. It is concluded that LIF may be important for the implantation of rabbit blastocysts. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

MicroRNA expression and regulation in mouse uterus during embryo implantation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 21-24-nucleotide non-coding RNAs found in diverse organisms. Although hundreds of miRNAs have been cloned or predicted, only very few miRNAs have been functionally characterized. Embryo implantation is a crucial step in mammalian reproduction. Many genes have been shown to be significantly changed in mouse uterus during embryo implantation. However, miRNA expression profiles in the mouse uterus between implantation sites and inter-implantation sites are still unknown. In this study, miRNA microarray was used to examine differential expression of miRNAs in the mouse uterus between implantation sites and inter-implantation sites. Compared with inter-implantation sites, there were 8 up-regulated miR-NAs at implantation sites, which were confirmed by both Northern blot and in situ hybridization. miR-21 was highly expressed in the subluminal stromal cells at implantation sites on day 5 of pregnancy. Because miR-21 was not detected in mouse uterus during pseudopregnancy and under delayed implantation, miR-21 expression at implantation sites was regulated by active blastocysts. Furthermore, we showed that Reck was the target gene of miR-21. Our data suggest that miR-21 may play a key role during embryo implantation.     

Expression of obesity gene and obesity gene long form receptor in endometrium of Yorkshire sows during embryo implantation

There is accumulating evidence that leptin may be directly involved in mammalian reproduction, however, the potential role of obesity gene/obesity gene long form receptor (ob/ob-Rb) system in porcine implantation is poorly understood. To further confirm this role, mRNA and protein expression of ob/ob-Rb in implantation site and inter-implantation sites of porcine uterus on pregnancy day 13, 18 and 24 were compared in this study. Ob mRNA level went up with the advance of pregnancy and was higher in implantation site than inter-implantation site (P < 0.05). But ob-Rb mRNA, which was negative-regulated by leptin, went down with the advance of pregnancy and lessened in implantation site compared with inter-implantation site (P < 0.05). During the three implantation phase, leptin protein peaked at day 18 pregnancy (P < 0.05) and leptin protein at implantation site were always higher than inter-implantation site (P < 0.05). The higher ob-Rb protein in implantation site compared with inter-implantation site (P < 0.05) only appeared at day 18 pregnancy. Localization of ob/ob-Rb protein in porcine uterus was assayed using immunohistochemistry and found that ob/ob-Rb protein mainly located in luminal epithelium and glandular epithelium in pregnant pigs, but distinct immune-staining of leptin also detected in stroma in non-pregnancy porcine uterus except for luminal epithelium and glandular epithelium. In conclusion, the peak of leptin and the peak of ob-Rb protein in implantation site specifically appeared on day 18 pregnancy of pig. Another funning discovery is ob-Rb mRNA in porcine endometrium was mainly negative-regulated by leptin. The space–time difference of gene and protein expression for ob/ob-Rb confirmed ob/ob-Rb system role as delicate regulator of porcine implantation process.     

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta expression and regulation in mouse uterus during embryo implantation and decidualization

The aim of this study was to examine the expression and regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) PPARdelta gene in mouse uterus during early pregnancy by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. PPARdelta expression under pseudopregnancy, delayed implantation, hormonal treatment, and artificial decidualization was also investigated. There was a very low level of PPARdelta expression on days 1-4 of pregnancy. On day 5 when embryo implanted, PPARdelta expression was exclusively observed in the subluminal stroma surrounding the implanting blastocyst. No corresponding signals were seen in the uterus on day 5 of pregnancy. There was no detectable PPARdelta signal under delayed implantation. Once delayed implantation was terminated by estrogen treatment and embryo implanted, a strong level of PPARdelta expression was induced in the subluminal stroma surrounding the implanting blastocyst. Estrogen treatment induced a moderate level of PPARdelta expression in the glandular epithelium, while progesterone treatment had no effects in the ovariectomized mice. A strong level of PPARdelta expression was seen in the decidua on days 6-8 of pregnancy. PPARdelta expression was also induced under artificial decidualization. These data suggest that PPARdelta expression at implantation sites require the presence of an active blastocyst and may play an essential role for blastocyst implantation.     

Relationship between macrophages in mouse uteri and angiogenesis in endometrium during the peri-implantation period

The objective of this study is to examine the change in macrophage numbers, inducible form of NO synthase (iNOS), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression both before and after embryo implantation in the uterine tissue of mice. In order to explore the mechanism of macrophages in endometrial angiogenesis, 8-week-old female mice were divided into three groups: pregnant group, pseudopregnant group (mated to male mice that had been vasectomized), and estrous group (unmated). Individuals from these three groups were sacrificed at time intervals D1.5 to D6.5. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue was used for immunocytochemical localization of Mφ, iNOS, and VEGF utilizing standard methodology. The proportion of macrophages in the peripheral blood was determined by flow cytometry, and the relationship between macrophage, iNOS, and VEGF expression was analyzed. The proportion of peripheral blood macrophages in the pregnancy group was significantly higher than that in the other groups. The results of immunohistochemistry determined that the macrophages exhibited changes in both numbers and distribution. The number of macrophages in the endometrium of the pregnancy and pseudopregnancy groups was significantly higher than that in the control (estrous) group. In the pregnancy group, macrophage numbers dramatically decreased and gradually transferred to the perimetrium on D4.5. Immunostaining revealed strong staining in the pregnancy group and weaker staining in the pseudopregnant and control groups for both iNOS and VEGF. There was strong, dense immunostaining at the implantation site for both iNOS and VEGF, whereas light immunostaining was seen in interimplantation tissues on D5.5 to D6.5. In the pregnant group, peripheral blood and uterine macrophage proportions were negatively correlated, whereas the amount of macrophages, iNOS, and VEGF expression in the endometrium were positively correlated. The expression of iNOS and VEGF in the endometrium also displayed a strong positive correlation. In conclusion, during embryo implantation, macrophages levels decreased in the uterus, whereas the number of peripheral macrophages increased, suggesting that macrophages may migrate into the peripheral blood and uterus to adapt for pregnancy. Additionally, an increase in the expression of iNOS and VEGF was observed during the implantation window, implying that iNOS and VEGF may play an important role in promoting embryo implantation. The positive correlation between macrophages, iNOS, and VEGF in the implanting uterus implied that macrophages might regulate iNOS and VEGF during the implantation process.     

ICAM1 and fibrinogen-γ are increased in uterine epithelial cells at the time of implantation in rats

Uterine epithelial cells transform into a receptive state to adhere to an implanting blastocyst. Part of this transformation includes the apical concentration of cell adhesion molecules at the time of implantation. This study, for the first time, investigates the expression of ICAM1 and fibrinogen‐γ (FGG) in uterine epithelial cells during normal pregnancy, pseudopregnancy and in hormone‐treated rats. An increase (P < 0.05) in ICAM1 was seen at the apical membrane of uterine epithelial cells at the time of implantation compared with day 1 of pregnancy. ICAM1 was also increased (P < 0.05) on day 6 of pseudopregnancy as well as in ovariectomized rats treated with progesterone plus oestrogen. These results show that ICAM1 up‐regulation at the time of implantation is under the control of progesterone, and is not dependent on cytokine release from the blastocyst or in semen. FGG dimerization increased (P < 0.05) on day 6 of pregnancy compared with day 1, and was not up‐regulated in day 6 pseudopregnant animals, suggesting this increase is dependent on a developing blastocyst. The presence of ICAM1 and FGG in the uterine epithelium at the time of implantation in the rat is similar to that seen in lymphocyte–endothelium adhesion, and we suggest a similar mechanism in embryo–uterine epithelium adhesion is utilized. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 78:318–327, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.