Reichert's membranes adjust intrauterine pressure for early mouse morphogenesis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K10202
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Embryonic/Neonatal medicine
• Research Institution: Osama Woman's and Children's Hospital
• Principal Investigator: Ueda Yoko 地方独立行政法人大阪府立病院機構大阪母子医療センター(研究所), 病因病態部門, 流動研究員 (50755808)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 松尾 勲 地方独立行政法人大阪府立病院機構大阪母子医療センター(研究所), 病因病態部門, 部長 (10264285)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: マウス / 子宮内圧 / ライヘルト膜 / 細胞外マトリクス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Mammalian embryogenesis proceeds in utero with the support of nutrients and gases from maternal tissues.However, the contribution of the mechanical environment provided by the uterus to embryogenesis remains unaddressed. Notably, how intrauterine pressures are produced, accurately adjusted, and exerted on embryos are completely unknown. Here, we find that Reichert’s membrane, a specialized basement membrane that wraps around the implanted mouse embryo, plays a crucial role as a shock absorber to protect embryos from intrauterine pressures. Notably, intrauterine pressures are produced by uterine smooth muscle contractions, showing the highest and most frequent periodic peaks just after implantation. Mechanistically, such pressures are adjusted within the sealed space between the embryo and uterus created by Reichert’s membrane and are involved in egg-cylinder morphogenesis as an important biomechanical environment in utero.

Free Research Field

初期発生

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年不育症の治療や不妊治療において、妊娠極初期の子宮への着床状態に関する検査方法や着床率を向上させる治療方法が求められている。今回の研究成果は、着床に必要となる子宮側の要因を理解するうえで大きな一歩であり、新しい検査法・治療法の開発に繋がることが期待される。
さらに、将来的に体外で胎児を正常に発育させる人工子宮に代表される未来の生殖医療技術の開発にもつながることが期待される。