Reproduction Abstracts

Introduction: Implantation is a highly coordinated event in which the receptive endometrium is primed to receive adhesion-competent blastocysts. Implantation relies on the bridging of integrins on the endometrium and the blastocyst by extracellular matrix proteins, such as fibronectin. Factors produced in the female reproductive tract are thought to support development of the blastocyst to an adhesion competent state and to ensure coordination of blastocyst implantation abilit...

Introduction: During implantation, uterine luminal epithelial cells (UECs) disassemble cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesions that contribute to the formation of an epithelial barrier, which is refractory to blastocyst implantation. These changes are critical for successful implantation. We have shown previously that claudin 7 is present in UECs and is lost prior to implantation in the rat. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is another protein frequently associat...

The composition of the external environment can have a significant impact on intracellular signaling pathways during early embryonic development. Components of the culture media, especially amino acids, are known to improve embryo development. We have shown that L-proline and L-glutamine improve development to the blastocyst stage by acting in a growth factor-like way. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of amino acids on signaling pathways in the...

Introduction: In preparation for blastocyst implantation, the microvilli of uterine epithelial cells (UECs) are lost and the apical plasma membrane flattens. Prominin-1 is a membrane glycoprotein restricted to the apical domain of epithelial cells, while the structurally related prominin-2 is distributed throughout the plasma membrane of epithelial cells in a non-polarised way. This study aimed to examine the expression of prominin-1 and -2 in UECs to examine their potential r...

The inclusion of amino acids in pre-implantation embryo culture media is known to improve the rate of development and embryo viability. Our studies have shown that embryos cultured in L-proline from the zygote to the blastocyst stage develop better than embryos cultured in the absence of amino acids. This study aimed to identify the pre-implantation stage(s) at which L-proline transport is required for development to be improved and then to charac...