Development of an in vitro model to study uterine functions and early implantation using rat uterine explants.
Cell Tissue Res
; 370(3): 501-512, 2017 12.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28956162
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to develop an in vitro model using rat uterine explants to explore complex uterine functions. Rat uterine explants (1-2 mm) were isolated, cultured and further characterized. Steroid hormone treatment of cultured explants showed that both Muc1 and Pr were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05) by E2. Areg was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05) by P4 and Igfbp1 was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05) by the combination of E2 and P4, although, in rat, Igfbp1 is E2-dependent. In vitro decidualization of cultured explants was induced and two potential markers of decidualization, Prl8a2 and Bmp2, were examined. Real-time quantitative PCR data revealed that both Prl8a2 and Bmp2 were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05) in MPA- and db-cAMP-treated explants compared to the control group of explants. Then, an individual hatched blastocyst and cultured explant was placed in a 96-well (round-bottom U-shaped) plate. Co-culture results showed that stable attachments were observed after 48 h, where embryos were stably attached to the explants and could not be dislodged after mild shaking and/or pipetting. The rates of attachment of embryos to the explants were increased significantly in the P4-treated group (63.6%) compared to the control group (35.5%), after steroid hormone treatment. The rates of attachment were reduced significantly in the E2-treated group (0.0%), where no stable attachments were observed. Despite the necessity of comprehensive investigation, our results suggest that the cultured rat uterine explants can be a useful in vitro model to study uterine functions and early implantation.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Técnicas de Cultivo de Órganos
/
Implantación del Embrión
/
Útero
/
Decidua
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Cell Tissue Res
Año:
2017
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Japón