title: Novel male exposure reduces uterine e-cadherin, increases uterine luminal area, and diminishes progesterone levels while disrupting blastocyst implantation in inseminated mice.
abstract: Exposure to novel male mice disrupts blastocyst implantation in inseminated female mice, and evidence increasingly implicates the female's absorption of male urinary estrogens. We observed implantation sites in male-exposed and isolated control female mice during gestation days (GD) 2-8, observing a significant reduction in male-exposed females compared to controls, particularly on GD 6 and 8. We also measured transitions in uterine luminal area and e-cadherin expression, as these processes are modulated by estrogens. Luminal area was greater in male-exposed females than in controls during the post-implantation period (GD 5-7). E-cadherin levels were suppressed by male exposure, particularly during GD 4-6 Serum progesterone levels were also reduced in male-exposed females. The effects of male exposure on uterine closure and e-cadherin levels are consistent with established effects of estrogens, and suggest a possible mechanism that could contribute to implantation failure. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Pregnancy and Steroids'.
authors: Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada.
authors: Nazanin
authors: N
authors: Rajabi
authors: Joelle B
authors: JB
authors: Thorpe
authors: Warren G
authors: WG
authors: Foster
authors: Denys
authors: D
authors: deCatanzaro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064200:Cdh1 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D007314:Insemination; D008098:Litter Size; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D064200:Cdh1 Proteins; C577585:Fzr1 protein, mouse; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Blastocyst; E-cadherin; Implantation; Luminal closure; Progesterone; Uterus