title: Transcription and translation of Dickkopf-1 in endometrium of pregnant mice during the peri-implantation period.
abstract: To study the expression of Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) in endometrium of pregnant mice during the peri-implantation period and the role of DKK-1 during the embryo implantation in mice. Immunohistochemical technique was employed to determine the location of DKK-1 protein in endometrium, and semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was utilized to determine the levels of DKK-1 mRNA. Our results showed that the expressions of DKK1 mRNA and protein were higher in experimental groups than in control group (P<0.01) and it increased significantly on day 3 and reached its peak on day 4, and then decreased gradually on day 5-7. The levels of DKK-1 mRNA and protein on day 4 was significantly higher than those of other groups (P<0.01). It is concluded that DKK-1 probably plays an important role in signal transudation of embryo implantation and its high expression indicates the opening of implantation window.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Hanwang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiaohong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000235:genetics*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: C501127:Dkk1 protein, mouse; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger