Insights from imaging the implanting embryo and the uterine environment in three dimensions.
Although much is known about the embryo during implantation, the architecture of the uterine environment in which the early embryo develops is not well understood. We employed confocal imaging in combination with 3D analysis to identify and quantify dynamic changes to the luminal structure of murine uterus in preparation for implantation. When applied to mouse mutants with known implantation defects, this method detected striking peri-implantation abnormalities in uterine morphology that cannot be visualized by histology. We revealed 3D organization of uterine glands and found that they undergo a stereotypical reorientation concurrent with implantation. Furthermore, we extended this technique to generate a 3D rendering of the cycling human endometrium. Analyzing the uterine and embryo structure in 3D for different genetic mutants and pathological conditions will help uncover novel molecular pathways and global structural changes that contribute to successful implantation of an embryo.
Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.|Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and the Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Ripla
R
Arora
Biological Imaging Development Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Adam
A
Fries
Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Karina
K
Oelerich
Biological Imaging Development Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Kyle
K
Marchuk
Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Khalida
K
Sabeur
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and the Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Linda C
LC
Giudice
Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA diana.laird@ucsf.edu.|Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and the Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Diana J
0000-0002-4930-0560
DJ
Laird
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000071818:Wnt-5a Protein / Q000235:genetics
D000071818:Wnt-5a Protein; C438615:Wnt5a protein, mouse
Blastocyst; Confocal Imaging; Embryo; Implantation; Receptivity; Surface curvature; Uterus; Wnt5a