Morphological changes during the aligment of embryonic and uterine axes

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02494
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44020:Developmental biology-related
• Research Institution: National Institute for Basic Biology
• Principal Investigator: Fujimori Toshihiko 基礎生物学研究所, 初期発生研究部門, 教授 (80301274)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Implantation / Axis / Uterus / mouse

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In mammalian development, the placenta, composed of mammalian maternal and embryonic tissues, forms on the mesometrial side (M-side), where blood vessels connect to the uterus exist, for the efficient exchange of nutrients between the mother and the fetus. In the mouse, the embryo implants in the uterus 4.5 days after fertilization, and is oriented so that the future placenta will form on the M-side. The morphologies and the relationship between the embryo and the uterus during implantation were histologically analyzed in detail using 3D reconstructed images and images of cleared tissues. We found that the morphology of the uterus changes significantly, the luminal closure, the elongation of the embryo, and the formation of an implantation chamber, resulting in the embryonic and uterine axes are aligned to complete implantation.

Free Research Field

発生生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ヒトを含む哺乳類の大きな特徴の一つは、その発生が母親の子宮の中で進むことにある。卵管で受精し胚盤胞まで進んだ胚は子宮に着床する。メスの子宮の中でおきるこの重要なイベントについては、アクセスが困難であることから未解明のことが多い。そこで、比較的容易に子宮内への胚を解析することができるマウスを用いて、着床の詳細な解析を行った。特に子宮につながる血管と胚の間に着床後の胚の発生を支える胎盤が形成されるが、その位置関係がどのように決められるかについて理解が大きく進んだ。