title: Effects of interleukin 11 (IL-11) on early post-implantation development of the rat.
abstract: The development of embryos, trophoblast and decidua of IL-11-treated rats were examined in vivo, while ectoplacental cones (EPC) were studied in vitro. Female Wistar rats were injected daily with buffer (C), 1 mg/kg IL-11 (HD) daily or 30 microgram/kg (LD) IL-11 twice a week. On day 9 of pregnancy, embryonic tissue volume was reduced in IL-11-treated animals, but EPC volume was elevated, compared to controls. Mitotic indices were reduced in embryos (P<0.05 for LD, P<0.001 for HD) and in EPCs of both groups. Pycnotic indices were elevated in LD (NS) and HD (P<0.05) embryos, but decreased in EPCs of the LD group (P<0.01). Morphological abnormalities were observed in decidua, embryo and trophoblast. In HD, EPC attachment was impaired after 1 day culture but proliferation was stimulated after 5 days. Defective decidualization in IL-11 treated rats may therefore result in abnormal development of embryo and trophoblast.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caluwaerts
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pijnenborg
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luyten
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Keith
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: André Van Assche
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003656:Decidua / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D017370:Interleukin-11 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008940:Mitotic Index / Q000187:drug effects; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D017370:Interleukin-11; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol