Understanding what factors in the uterus are vital for a
healthy pregnancy is important in order to understand the causes of
pregnancy loss.
The majority of pregnancy losses occur during the first trimester, when biological communication between the embryo and mother is critical for the establishment of the pregnancy. Scientists and doctors have known for several years that glands within the uterus produce Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF), which is vital for embryo implantation and successful pregnancies.
The majority of pregnancy losses occur during the first trimester, when biological communication between the embryo and mother is critical for the establishment of the pregnancy. Scientists and doctors have known for several years that glands within the uterus produce Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF), which is vital for embryo implantation and successful pregnancies.
Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that uterine glands have additional roles in promoting pregnancy beyond LIF. Tom Spencer, a professor of reproductive and developmental biology at MU, says this discovery is important for scientists and doctors to better understand how pregnancies develop and to prevent pregnancy loss and complications such as miscarriage and preeclampsia.
‘Uterine glands serve additional functions for supporting embryo growth and development beyond simply producing Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF).’
In their study, Spencer and his team of researchers from the MU Division of Animal Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) as well as Washington State University and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, examined the development of mice embryos, which develop similarly to humans.
The researchers removed a gene from the uteri of mice called FOXA2 using common genetic editing techniques. Some of the mice lacked uterine glands altogether. To the researchers' surprise, the uteri of adult FOXA2-deficient mice did not produce LIF. The researchers then added LIF to the mice mothers. The mice with uterine glands carried their embryos to term with successful pregnancies; the mice without uterine glands had failed pregnancies.
"We already knew that LIF was vital to ensuring successful pregnancies," Spencer said. "However, this study has proven that uterine glands serve additional functions for supporting embryo growth and development beyond simply producing LIF. Our next step is to determine what additional factors uterine glands produce to support pregnancies. By understanding how these glands work, we can help improve the rates of healthy and successful human and animal pregnancies produced by natural and assisted means."
Source: Eurekalert
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