| dc.description.abstract |
The endometrium is normally a hostile environment for an embryo, except for ashort phase in each reproductive cycle known as the ‘window ofreceptivity’. The precise molecular events involved in thistransformation are not well understood. Application of state-of-the-arttechniques of the 1990s has identified some of the genes involved, which arereviewed here. Mice with a null mutation in either the gene for leukemiainhibitory factor or the interleukin-11 receptor α chain are infertile,owing in both cases to a failure of embryo implantation. Both of these genesare expressed in the human endometrium with patterns suggesting a role inhuman fertility. The technique of RNA differential display has been applied toa comparison of the expression of genes at implantation sites v.inter-implantation sites in the mouse uterus on the first day of implantation,and has defined additional genes whose products may be important for thisprocess. Among these are the calcium-binding protein D9K, the monoclonalnon-specific suppressor factor &bgr; , and the splicing factor SC35. The majorchallenge is to determine whether manipulation of such genes can increase ordecrease endometrial receptivity in humans.Extra keywords: calbindin-D9k, interleukin-11, leukemiainhibitory factor, monoclonal non-specific suppressor factor &bgr; , splicingfactor SC35. |
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