Comparison of Exosome Presence and Morphologic Changes Between Implantation and Inter-Implantation Areas in Rat's Utero by Confocal Microscope and SEM

Abstract

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to compare the differences between the implantation and interimplantation sites in terms of the presence and release density of exosomes.
 Method: Wistar albino strains were used in this study. The rats were considered pregnant with the presence of vaginal plugs after mating. Then the rats were sacrificed on the 6th day when the embryos first attach to the uterus and implantation started. Implantation and inter-implantation sites were easily identified by staining the implantation sites with intravenous Chicago Blue dye given just before sacrification. After tissue preparation, sections were placed on slides. Exosomes detected with anti-CD63 fluoresence staining and imaged by confocal microscope. Further these sites were evaluated by Scaning electron microscopy (SEM).
 Result: When implantation and inter implantation sites compared, it was observed that amont of exosomes was higher than inter-implantation sites in confocal images. Additionally, SEM images confirmed the confocal results of these sites.
 Conclusion: Our study is the first in the literature to compare implantation and inter-implantation areas in terms of the presence of exosomes. These results probably suggested that the exosome plays an important role in implantation for the embryo to find the correct implantation site. Probably these exosomes must carry the necessary signals to find the right implantation site. However, further studies are needed to reveal the function of exosomes in implantation sites.