title: The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway exerts effects on the implantation of mouse embryos by regulating the expression of RhoA.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway affects the implantation of mouse embryos by regulating the expression of RhoA. The expression of PI3K, Akt, phosphorylated (p-)Akt, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and RhoA in the uterus of mice on day 5 of pregnancy (D5) and in pseudopregnant mice was examined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. A functional analysis of these genes was also performed by the intrauterine injection with the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, on day 2 of pregnancy (D2). The expression levels of PI3K, p-Akt, RhoA at the implantation site were higher than those at the inter-implantation site in the endometrium; however, opposite effects were observed for PTEN expression. The expression levels of the above genes in the pseudopregnant group and in the group injected with the PI3K/Akt inhibitor, LY294002, were markedly lower than those in the pregnant group. Functional experiments revealed that the number of implantation sites had been significantly decreased (P<0.05) following the intrauterine injection of the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, on day 2 of gestation compared with the contralateral injection of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). These results suggest that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway affects embryo implantation by regulating the expression of RhoA.
authors.affiliation: College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong, Chongqing 400016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Liyuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong, Chongqing 400016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yingxiong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medical Laboratory, Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong, Chongqing 400016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qiubo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002867:Chromones / Q000494:pharmacology; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011247:Pregnancy; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002867:Chromones; D009025:Morpholines; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein; C085911:2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one