Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from SciELO through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Distribution of versican and hyaluronan in the mouse uterus during decidualization

Full text
Author(s):
S. San Martin [1] ; M. Soto-Suazo [2] ; T.M.T. Zorn [3]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas. Departamento de Histologia e Embriologia - Brasil
[2] Universidad de Santiago de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Escuela de Medicina - Chile
[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas. Departamento de Histologia e Embriologia - Brasil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 36, n. 8, p. 1067-1071, 2003-08-00.
Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology
Abstract

Preparation for embryo implantation requires extensive adaptation of the uterine microenvironment. This process consists of cell proliferation and cell differentiation resulting in the transformation of endometrial fibroblasts into a new type of cell called decidual cell. In the present study, we followed the space-time distribution of versican and hyaluronan (HA) in different tissues of the uterus before and after embryo implantation. Fragments of mouse uteri obtained on the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh days of pregnancy were fixed in Methacarn, embedded in Paraplast and cut into 5-µm thick sections. HA was detected using a biotinylated fragment of the proteoglycan aggrecan, which binds to this glycosaminoglycan with high affinity and specificity. Versican was detected by a polyclonal antibody. Both reactions were developed by peroxidase methods. Before embryo implantation, both HA and versican were present in the endometrial stroma. However, after embryo implantation, HA disappeared from the decidual region immediately surrounding the implantation chamber, whereas versican accumulated in the same region. The differences observed in the expression of HA and versican suggest that both molecules may participate in the process of endometrial decidualization and/or embryo implantation. (AU)