title: Mechanisms of uterine estrogen signaling during early pregnancy in mice: an update.
abstract: Adherence of an embryo to the uterus represents the most critical step of the reproductive process. Implantation is a synchronized event between the blastocyst and the uterine luminal epithelium, leading to structural and functional changes for further embryonic growth and development. The milieu comprising the complex process of implantation is mediated by estrogen through diverse but interdependent signaling pathways. Mouse models have demonstrated the relevance of the expression of estrogen-modulated paracrine factors to uterine receptivity and implantation window. More importantly, some factors seem to serve as molecular links between different estrogen pathways, promoting cell growth, acting as molecular chaperones, or amplifying estrogenic effects. Abnormal expression of these factors can lead to implantation failure and infertility. This review provides an overview of several well-characterized signaling pathways that elucidates the molecular cross talk involved in the uterus during early pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of Cincinnati, West Chester, Ohio, USA Division of Reproductive SciencesCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Robertshaw
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive SciencesCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Perinatal InstituteCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive SciencesCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Perinatal InstituteCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Department of PediatricsUniversity of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA sanjoy.das@cchmc.org.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D051837:COUP Transcription Factor II / Q000378:metabolism; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000235:genetics; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005865:Gestational Age; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D051837:COUP Transcription Factor II; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004967:Estrogens; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen
keywords: estrogen; implantation; pregnancy; signaling; uterus