Abstract
Recent evidence points to an important role for Muc1 in embryo implantation. In this study, Real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to study mRNA and protein levels at, and between, the attachment sites of the endometrium of Day 13, 18 and 24 pregnant sows. The results indicate that Muc1 mRNA expression was higher between attachment sites than at attachment sites during implantation and this effect was significant on Day 13 (P < 0.01) and 24 (P < 0.01). Intense Muc1 immunostaining was observed in luminal epithelium and stroma and the staining between attachment sites was stronger than at attachment sites on Days 13 and 18. Collectively, these results suggest the crucial role of Muc1 in successful implantation and embryo survival.
Highlights
Implantation is the process in which mammalian embryos attach to the maternal uterus and interact intimately to form a placenta
Uterodomes are morphological markers for endometrial receptivity which indicate the opening of the “implantation window” [22]
A similar expression pattern was observed on Day 7.25 postcoitum in rabbits [25]. These findings demonstrate that reduction of Muc1 expression at attachment sites may cause enhancement of endometrial receptivity, and result in successful implantation of embryos
Summary
Implantation is the process in which mammalian embryos attach to the maternal uterus and interact intimately to form a placenta. The implantation of the porcine embryos into the uterine wall is non-invasive and superficial. It consists of two stages: apposition and adhesion. Expression of Muc in endometrial epithelium has been suggested to create a barrier to embryo attachment and the barrier must be removed or down-regulated to produce a surface receptive at the time of implantation [18,19,20,21]. The Muc expression and function between/at attachment sites of the porcine uterus throughout the implantation phase were previously not clear. The main aim of this study was to detect the expression of Muc between, and at, attachment sites of the porcine endometrium in the early, mid- and late stages of embryo implantation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied to observe uterodomes in endometrium and to confirm that the sampling sites (between/at attachment sites) were accurate at the beginning of implantantion
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