Apoptosis in uterine epithelium and decidua in response to implantation: evidence for two different pathways

<p>Abstract</p> <p>During the initial steps of implantation, the mouse uterine epithelium of the implantation chamber undergoes apoptosis in response to the interacting blastocyst. With progressing implantation, regression of the decidual cells allows a restricted and coordinated i...

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Main Authors: Gabriel Heinz-Dieter, Joswig Anike, Kibschull Mark, Winterhager Elke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2003-05-01
Series:Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Online Access:http://www.RBEj.com/content/1/1/44
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spelling doaj-30082a767c5b4317bdff7bf6e29fca582020-11-25T01:18:05ZengBMCReproductive Biology and Endocrinology1477-78272003-05-01114410.1186/1477-7827-1-44Apoptosis in uterine epithelium and decidua in response to implantation: evidence for two different pathwaysGabriel Heinz-DieterJoswig AnikeKibschull MarkWinterhager Elke<p>Abstract</p> <p>During the initial steps of implantation, the mouse uterine epithelium of the implantation chamber undergoes apoptosis in response to the interacting blastocyst. With progressing implantation, regression of the decidual cells allows a restricted and coordinated invasion of trophoblast cells into the maternal compartment. In order to investigate pathways of apoptosis in mouse uterine epithelium and decidua during early pregnancy (day 4.5–7.0 post coitum), we have investigated different proteins such as TNFalpha, TNF receptor1, Fas ligand, Fas receptor1, Bax and Bcl2 as well as caspase-9 and caspase-3 using immunohistochemistry. To detect cells undergoing apoptosis the Tunel assay was performed. Immunoreactivity for TNFalpha as well as for TNF receptor1 was observed exclusively in the epithelium of the implantation chamber and the adjacent luminal epithelium from day 4.5 post coitum onwards. In the developing decidua the Fas ligand, but not the Fas receptor, was expressed. Bax and Bcl2 revealed a complementary expression pattern with Bax in the primary and Bcl2 in the adjacent decidual zone. Strong immunolabelling for the initiator caspase-9 was restricted to the decidual compartment, whereas caspase-3 expression characterized the apoptotic uterine epithelium. Only some caspase-3 positive decidual cells were found around the embryo which correlated to the pattern of Tunel staining. Taken together, the apoptotic degeneration of the uterine epithelium seems to be mediated by TNF receptor1 followed by caspase-3, whereas the very moderate regression of the decidua did not show the investigated death receptor, but Bax and Blc2 instead and in addition caspase-9, which indicates a different regulation for epithelial versus decidual apoptosis.</p> http://www.RBEj.com/content/1/1/44
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Gabriel Heinz-Dieter
Joswig Anike
Kibschull Mark
Winterhager Elke
spellingShingle Gabriel Heinz-Dieter
Joswig Anike
Kibschull Mark
Winterhager Elke
Apoptosis in uterine epithelium and decidua in response to implantation: evidence for two different pathways
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
author_facet Gabriel Heinz-Dieter
Joswig Anike
Kibschull Mark
Winterhager Elke
author_sort Gabriel Heinz-Dieter
title Apoptosis in uterine epithelium and decidua in response to implantation: evidence for two different pathways
title_short Apoptosis in uterine epithelium and decidua in response to implantation: evidence for two different pathways
title_full Apoptosis in uterine epithelium and decidua in response to implantation: evidence for two different pathways
title_fullStr Apoptosis in uterine epithelium and decidua in response to implantation: evidence for two different pathways
title_full_unstemmed Apoptosis in uterine epithelium and decidua in response to implantation: evidence for two different pathways
title_sort apoptosis in uterine epithelium and decidua in response to implantation: evidence for two different pathways
publisher BMC
series Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
issn 1477-7827
publishDate 2003-05-01
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>During the initial steps of implantation, the mouse uterine epithelium of the implantation chamber undergoes apoptosis in response to the interacting blastocyst. With progressing implantation, regression of the decidual cells allows a restricted and coordinated invasion of trophoblast cells into the maternal compartment. In order to investigate pathways of apoptosis in mouse uterine epithelium and decidua during early pregnancy (day 4.5–7.0 post coitum), we have investigated different proteins such as TNFalpha, TNF receptor1, Fas ligand, Fas receptor1, Bax and Bcl2 as well as caspase-9 and caspase-3 using immunohistochemistry. To detect cells undergoing apoptosis the Tunel assay was performed. Immunoreactivity for TNFalpha as well as for TNF receptor1 was observed exclusively in the epithelium of the implantation chamber and the adjacent luminal epithelium from day 4.5 post coitum onwards. In the developing decidua the Fas ligand, but not the Fas receptor, was expressed. Bax and Bcl2 revealed a complementary expression pattern with Bax in the primary and Bcl2 in the adjacent decidual zone. Strong immunolabelling for the initiator caspase-9 was restricted to the decidual compartment, whereas caspase-3 expression characterized the apoptotic uterine epithelium. Only some caspase-3 positive decidual cells were found around the embryo which correlated to the pattern of Tunel staining. Taken together, the apoptotic degeneration of the uterine epithelium seems to be mediated by TNF receptor1 followed by caspase-3, whereas the very moderate regression of the decidua did not show the investigated death receptor, but Bax and Blc2 instead and in addition caspase-9, which indicates a different regulation for epithelial versus decidual apoptosis.</p>
url http://www.RBEj.com/content/1/1/44
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AT kibschullmark apoptosisinuterineepitheliumanddeciduainresponsetoimplantationevidencefortwodifferentpathways
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