CSIRO Publishing Home Books & CDs Journals About Us Shopping Cart
Reproduction, Fertility and Development
  An international journal at the forefront of reproduction and developmental science
You are here: Journals > Reproduction, Fertility and Development   
Search
 
 
  Advanced Search
   
Journal Home
General Information
Scope
Editorial Board
Editorial Contacts
Print Publication Dates
Online Content
For Authors
For Referees
How to Order

 Most Read
Visit our Most Read page regularly to keep up-to-date with the most downloaded papers in this journal.

 Early Alert
Subscribe to our email Early Alert or RSS feeds for the latest journal papers.

 

Expression pattern of integrins and their ligands in mouse feto-maternal tissues during pregnancy

Sachin S. Mangale A and K. V. R. Reddy A , B

A Immunology Division, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, J. M. Street, Parel, Mumbai 400 012, India.
B Corresponding author. Email: shrichi@rediffmail.com


Abstract

The role of integrins, the cell-surface glycoproteins involved in various cellular functions, is well documented. However, information about their role and expression profile during pregnancy is still scant. In the present study, the expression of the integrin subunits β3, α6 and α5, along with their ligands vitronectin, osteopontin, laminin and fibronectin, was investigated in mouse uterus during different stages of pregnancy, namely 6.5, 8.5 and 13.5 days post coitus (d.p.c.) by immunohistochemical localisation. Integrins β3, α6 and α5 and the extracellular matrix molecules vitronectin and osteopontin exhibited dynamic spatiotemporal changes in their expression pattern in gestational endometrium, whereas fibronectin and laminin demonstrated more-or-less ubiquitous expression. The inter-implantation sites showed localisation of most of these molecules predominantly in the luminal epithelium, whereas their expression was negligible in the stroma. The present study explores the possible role and relevance of the spatiotemporal expression of integrins and their ligands in endometrial/decidual function and the maintenance of pregnancy.

Keywords: decidua, embryo, extracellular matrix, placenta.

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 19(3) 452–460    doi:10.1071/RD06143
Submitted: 24 October 2006    Accepted: 21 January 2007    Published: 14 March 2007





   
Subscriber Login
Username:
Password:  

 View
Issue Contents
PDF (1.1 MB) $25
Export Citation
Cited by
 Tools
Print
Email this page
    


 
Top  Email this page
 


Legal & Privacy | Sitemap | Contact Us | Help

CSIRO

© CSIRO 1996-2009