Reproductive endocrinology: A microRNA prevents cervical embryonic implantation

摘要

What are the mechanisms that prevent implantation of embryos in the cervix, rather than the uterus? A new study reveals that microRNA regulation might play an important part in this process. Cervical implantation and placenta previa are complications of pregnancy that are associated with a substantial risk of severe bleeding and mortality. Yasushi Hirota and colleagues set out to investigate why, in the presence of the same hormonal milieu in the uterus and cervix, embryos do not usually attach to the cervix.