title: Ly49 knockdown in mice results in aberrant uterine crypt formation and impaired blastocyst implantation.
abstract: Genetic knockdown (KD) of the mouse Ly49 receptor family is reported to result in infertility despite the presence of zona-enclosed blastocysts in the uterus. Ly49 receptors regulate leukocyte functions particularly Natural Killer (NK) cell functions and are analogous to human killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs). Histological analyses of gd3.5-4.5 B6.Ly49(KD) uteri identified hatched but retarded blastocysts with pyknotic nuclei, aberrant endometrial crypt formation and impaired uterine lumen closure accompanied by a lack of primary decidualization These data support peri-implantation roles for leukocytes expressing the Ly49 receptor repertoire and may give insight into KIR-based regulation of human infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Allison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Felker
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Vanessa R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Megan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Makrigiannis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada. Electronic address: croya@queensu.ca.
authors.forename: B Anne
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Croy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000002:abnormalities*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D055650:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily A / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014599:Uterus / Q000002:abnormalities*
chemical_list: D055650:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily A
keywords: Decidual leukocytes; Ly49 gene family; Mouse implantation