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Insights into the Regulation of Implantation and Placentation in Humans, Rodents, Sheep, and Pigs

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Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition and Metabolism

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1354))

Abstract

Precise cell-specific spatio-temporal molecular signaling cascades regulate the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Importantly, the mechanisms regulating uterine receptivity, conceptus apposition and adhesion to the uterine luminal epithelia/superficial glandular epithelia and, in some species, invasion into the endometrial stroma and decidualization of stromal cells, are critical prerequisite events for placentation which is essential for the appropriate regulation of feto-placental growth for the remainder of pregnancy. Dysregulation of these signaling cascades during this critical stage of pregnancy can lead to pregnancy loss, impaired growth and development of the conceptus, and alterations in the transplacental exchange of gasses and nutrients. While many of these processes are conserved across species, significant variations in the molecular mechanisms governing maternal recognition of pregnancy, conceptus implantation, and placentation exist. This review addresses the complexity of key mechanisms that are critical for the establishment and maintenance of a successful pregnancy in humans, rodents, sheep, and pigs. Improving understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing these processes is critical to enhancing the fertility and reproductive health of humans and livestock species.

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Abbreviations

AKR1C1:

Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C1

BH4:

Tetrahydrobiopterin

CE:

Chorionic epithelium

CGB:

Chorionic gonadotrophin beta

CL:

Corpus luteum

CST3:

Cystatin C

CTB:

Cytotrophoblasts

CTSL:

Cathepsin L

CYPs:

Cytochrome P450 mixed-function oxidases

E2:

Estradiol

ECM:

Extracellular Matrix

ESR1:

Estradiol receptor

eEVT:

Endovascular extravillous trophoblast

EVT:

Extravillous trophoblast

FGF:

Fibroblast growth factor

FGFR:

Fibroblast growth factor receptor

GCH1:

GTP cyclohydrolase 1

GE:

Glandular epithelium

GLYCAM1:

Glycosylation dependent cell adhesion molecule 1

GNRH:

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

GNRHR:

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor

HBEGF:

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor

HGF:

Hepatocyte growth factor

HIF2A:

Hypoxia inducible factor 2 α

HLA:

Human leukocyte antigen

ICM:

Inner cell mass

iEVT:

Interstitial extravillous trophoblast

IFND:

Interferon delta

IFNG:

Interferon gamma

IFNT:

Interferon tau

IL1B:

Interleukin-1 beta

IRF:

Interferon regulatory factor

ISG:

Interferon stimulated gene

LE:

Luminal epithelium

LGALS15:

Galectin 15

LH:

Luteinizing hormone

LHCGR:

Luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor

MAPK:

Mitogen activated protein kinases

MMP:

Matrix metalloproteinases

MTORC:

Mechanistic target of rapamycin

MUC1:

Mucin 1

OXT:

Oxytocin

OXTR:

Oxytocin receptor

P4:

Progesterone

PA1:

Plasminogen activator inhibitor

PGF:

Prostaglandin F2α

PGFM:

Prostaglandin F2α metabolite

PGR:

Progesterone receptor

PI3K:

Phosphoinositide-3 kinase

PRL:

Prolactin

PTGFR:

Prostaglandin F2α receptor

PTGS2:

Prostaglandin synthase 2

sGE:

Superficial glandular epithelium

SLC:

Solute carrier family

SPP1:

Secreted phosphoprotein 1

STAT1:

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1

STB:

Syncytiotrophoblast

TGC:

Trophoblast giant cell

TGFB:

Transforming growth factor beta

TIMPs:

Tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteins

TPA:

Tissue-type plasminogen activator

UF:

Uteroferrin

UPA:

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator

WNT:

Wingless-related integration site

20α-OHP:

20α-Hydroxyprogesterone

20αHSD:

20α-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science and Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Claire Stenhouse, Heewon Seo, Guoyao Wu, Gregory A. Johnson & Fuller W. Bazer

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  1. Claire Stenhouse
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  2. Heewon Seo
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  3. Guoyao Wu
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  4. Gregory A. Johnson
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  5. Fuller W. Bazer
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Correspondence to Fuller W. Bazer .

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  1. Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Guoyao Wu

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Stenhouse, C., Seo, H., Wu, G., Johnson, G.A., Bazer, F.W. (2022). Insights into the Regulation of Implantation and Placentation in Humans, Rodents, Sheep, and Pigs. In: Wu, G. (eds) Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition and Metabolism. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1354. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85686-1_2

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