title: Adaptive mechanisms controlling uterine spiral artery remodeling during the establishment of pregnancy.
abstract: Implantation of the embryo into the uterus triggers the initiation of hemochorial placentation. The hemochorial placenta facilitates the acquisition of maternal resources required for embryo/fetal growth. Uterine spiral arteries form the nutrient supply line for the placenta and fetus. This vascular conduit undergoes gestation stage-specific remodeling directed by maternal natural killer cells and embryo-derived invasive trophoblast lineages. The placentation site, including remodeling of the uterine spiral arteries, is shaped by environmental challenges. In this review, we discuss the cellular participants controlling pregnancy-dependent uterine spiral artery remodeling and mechanisms responsible for their development and function.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA. msoares@kumc.edu.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Damayanti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: Kaiyu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Renaud
authors.forename: M A Karim
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rumi
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000166:cytology