Up-regulated monoamine oxidase in the mouse uterus during the peri-implantation period.
OBJECTIVE
Monoamine oxidases (MAO), functioning as the metabolism of neuroamines, have been reported to be required for endometrial receptivity recently. The aim of this study was to examine the expression patterns of the two subtypes, MAOA and MAOB, during the peri-implantation period and to investigate whether MAOA or MAOB is a useful marker for receptivity.


METHODS
A total of 30 uteri were collected from females of gestational day 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and mRNA and protein expression of MAOA/B were examined by real-time PCR, Western blot analysis and Immunohistochemistry analysis, respectively.


RESULTS
We found that the mRNA of MAOA expressed in the uteri at all stages of peri-implantation and began to rise on day 4 with a continuous increase up to day 8 of pregnancy, consistent with the changes of MAOA protein expression. The summit of MAOB mRNA and protein level was observed on day 4. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that both of MAOA and MAOB were mainly localized in the glandular and luminal epithelium cells, as well as their intense staining signals observed in the trophoblast cells on day 6 and 8.


CONCLUSIONS
Both MAOA and MAOB were up-regulated in the uteri during the peri-implantation period, which could play a role in mouse embryo implantation and endometrial receptivity; the temporal and spatial marked increase of MAOs may be traced as a useful marker for mouse endometrial receptivity; the expression mode of mouse MAOs should pave a way for further study.
Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, 413 Zhaozhou Road, Shanghai 200011, China.
Dan
D
Zhang
Caixia
C
Lei
Wei
W
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase