Identification of genes regulated by leukaemia inhibitory factor in the mouse uterus at the time of implantation

Abstract

The endometrium is prepared for implantation by the actions of estradiol and progesterone. In mice the luminal epithelium only becomes fully receptive to the attaching blastocyst in response to the nidatory estrogen surge on day 4 of pregnancy. The cytokine leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is rapidly induced by nidatory estrogen and has been shown to be the primary mediator of its action. Implantation fails in the absence of LIF and injection of LIF on day 4 of pregnancy can substitute for the nidatory estrogen.