Expression and regulation of lanosterol 14α-demethylase in mouse embryo and uterus during the peri-implantation period

摘要

Lanosterol 14α-demethylase (LDM) is expressed ubiquitously in all mammals and is important in cholesterolnbiosynthesis. However, whether LDM expression is involved in the interaction between uterus and embryo duringnimplantation remains unknown. In the present study, the expression of LDM was investigated in mouse embryo and uterusnduring the peri-implantation period using confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry and western blot methods. Further,nregulation of LDM expression was investigated in pseudopregnancy, delayed implantation, artificial decidualisation andnovariectomisation using 17β-oestradiol and progesterone treatment mouse models. The results showed that LDM wasnselectively expressed in preimplantation embryos and the uterine subluminal stroma surrounding the implanting blastocystnon Day 5 of pregnancy. No corresponding signal was detected in the uterus on Day 5 of pseudopregnancy. Mostnnotably, once delayed implantation was terminated by oestrogen treatment and the embryo implanted, a high level of LDMnexpression was induced in the subluminal stroma surrounding the implanting blastocyst, whereas no corresponding signalnwas detected in the delayed implantation uterus. A high level of LDM expression was observed in the uterus decidua onnDays 6–8 of pregnancy. Furthermore, LDM expression was induced in the uterine stroma under artificial decidualisation.nOestrogen, but not progesterone, treatment induced a high level of LDM expression in the uterus of ovariectomised mice.nThese results indicate that LDM is closely related to mouse embryo implantation and can be upregulated by oestrogen.