Studies on the regulation and function of Ihh during implantation

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25660214
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Animal production science
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Yamauchi Nobuhiko 九州大学, (連合)農学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (00363325)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: Ihh / 子宮内膜 / ウシ / スフェロイド / P4

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Hedgehog (Hh) proteins are involved in organogenesis and tumorigenesis by regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and cell-cell interactions. In mammals, indian hedgehog (Ihh) is up-regulated by P4 and critically mediates uterine receptivity in the mouse. Additionally, expression of Ihh mRNA increased at the implantation period in rat uterus. These results indicate that Ihh expression is important in the uterus during pre-pregnancy. Recently, it was reported that the mouse conditional mutation of Ihh in the uterus during pregnancy has no competency of implantation and decidualization. The report suggested that the Ihh plays a critical role in the implantation through epithelial-stromal cross-talk. However, expression of Ihh in the endometrium of mammalian uterus has not been reported yet without rodents. In this study, we investigated the expression and regulation of Ihh in the bovine endometrium in vivo and in vitro.

Free Research Field

動物繁殖生理学