The Expression and Role of Active β-catenin in Mice Endometria during Early Pregnancy

Abstract: To investigate distribution and role of active β-catenin in mice endometria during early pregnancy， we have detected the expression of active β-catenin in endometrium from non-pregnant mice and pregnant mice (3-7 days) by immunohistochemistry， Western blotting and immunofluorescence. The results showed that the expression of active β-catenin in endometria of pregnant mice was higher than that of non-pregnant mice， and gradually increased from pregnancy day 3， reaching a maximum level on day 4 and then declining on day 6 and 7. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that active β-catenin was present in gland epithelium， luminal epithelium and stromal cells on pregnancy day 3， enhanced gradually in gland epithelium and stromal cells and expressed significantly in luminal epithelium on day 4. Active β-catenin was enhanced significantly in stromal cells，vascular endothelium and embryo on day 5， but the expression was weakenen or vanished in luminal epithelium. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis showed both of active β-catenin and E-cadherins antigens expressed concomitantly in luminal epithelium and gland epithelium on day 3 and day 4， and both of active β-catenin and VEGF antigens expressed concomitantly in stromal cells， vascular endothelium and embryo after day 5 of pregnancy. These findings of the spatio-temporal expression of active β-catenin in mice endometria suggest that active β-catenin might be involved in adhesion/invasion of the blastocyst to endometrium and angiogenesis of endometrium and it might play an important role in embryo implantation and maintenance of pregnancy in mouse.
    

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2009.03.0018