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Expression of p16~(INK4a) in mouse endometrium and its effect during blastocyst implantation

Yang Huan, Xie Yi, Yang Rong, Wei Shali, Xi Qiang

Department of Reproductive Physiology,Chongqing Medical University.Chongqing 400016

Abstract

The expression of tumor suppressor gene p16~(INK4a) in mouse endometrium during early pregnancy and its possible role in blastocyst implantation were investigated in the present study. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) and immunohisto- chemistry were applied to detect p16~(INK4a) mRNA and protein expressions in endometrium of un-pregnant and pregnant mice on day 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, respectively. In addition, p16~(INK4a) antibody was injected into the horns of uteri in pregnant mice on day 3 and its effect during blastocyst implantation was detected in vivo. The higher expressions of p16~(INK4a) mRNA and protein were observed in pregnant mice compared with that in un-pregnant mice, with a steady increase from day 2 to day 5 and reaching the maximal level on day 5 of pregnancy and then decreasing. p16~(INK4a) antibody decreased the number of implanted blastocysts compared with that of saline-injected group. The results suggest that p16~(INK4a) may be associated with apoptosis of luminal epithelial cells and decidual cells, coordinating decidualization of endometrium and invasion of trophoblastic cells. Thus, we presume that p16~(INK4a) participates in the process of blastocyst implantation in mice.

Key words: blastocyst implantation;Endometrium;p16~(INK4a);real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR;Immunohistochemistry;in vivo

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Citing This Article：

Yang Huan, Xie Yi, Yang Rong, Wei Shali, Xi Qiang. Expression of p16~(INK4a) in mouse endometrium and its effect during blastocyst implantation. Acta Physiol Sin 2008; 60 (4): 547-552 (in Chinese with English abstract).