The role of MTOR in mouse uterus during embryo implantation.
Mammalian target of rapamycin (MTOR) is a protein kinase that plays a central role in cell growth and proliferation. It is a part of the signaling network transmitting growth factor signaling to translational control. Previous studies have shown that MTOR is involved in embryo implantation, but its expression in the uterus and its role in implantation are unclear. Here, we have investigated the expression and role of MTOR in mouse uterus during early pregnancy. RT-FQ PCR showed that the mRNA levels of Mtor in endometria of pregnant mice were higher than those of nonpregnant mice. The mRNA levels in the pregnant mice gradually increased from D3 of pregnancy, reached maximum on D5, and then declined afterward. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis showed that the mRNA and protein of MTOR were mainly located in stromal cells. The levels of the expressed MTOR protein correlate with those of mRNA. The number of implantation sites was greatly decreased by the intrauterine injection with rapamycin in the early morning of D4 of the pregnancy. These findings suggest that MTOR may play an important role in embryo implantation in mice.
Chen
Xuemei
X
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
He
Junlin
J
Ding
Yubin
Y
Zeng
Lan
L
Gao
Rufei
R
Cheng
Shuqun
S
Liu
Xueqing
X
Wang
Yingxiong
Y
D000818:Animals; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011897:Random Allocation; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011494:Protein Kinases; C546843:mTOR protein, mouse; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D020123:Sirolimus