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Abstract:
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During pregnancy in the mouse, extensive communication takes place between the conceptus (embryo/fetus and associated extraembryonic membranes) and uterus. Our focus centers on the uterine response to the conceptus. In ruminants, the conceptus produces interferon tau that induces interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) which likely regulate uterine receptivity, conceptus implantation, and conceptus growth and development. Our hypothesis is that ISGs are similarly induced in uterus during pregnancy in the mouse. If ISGs have a critical role in pregnancy establishment and maintenance in mammals, it is important to identify these ISGs in order to address fertility issues in human medicine. In this research, in situ hybridization analysis of uteri during gestation in the mouse was conducted to understand cell specific expression of selected ISGs during pregnancy. Of the fifteen ISGs investigated, ten (Irf1, Irf2, Irf6, Irf7, Isg15, Oas2, Plscr1, Stat1, Rsad2, Tlr4) were found to be expressed in the uterus during pregnancy. |
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