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Sakurai J, Oka S, Higuchi Y, Ohsawa S, Fujimori T. Effects of blastocyst elongation and implantation chamber formation on the alignment of the embryonic axis and uterine axis in mice. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1421222. [PMID: 38946796 PMCID: PMC11211524 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1421222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Embryo implantation involves a series of events that bring the embryo and maternal tissues into contact to support post-implantation development in mammals. During implantation, alignment of the embryonic-abembryonic (E-Ab) axis of the blastocyst with the mesometrial-antimesometrial (M-AM) axis of the uterus precedes post-implantation embryonic development and placentation. In the present study, we observed the morphological changes in blastocysts and the endometrial luminal epithelium (LE) that occur during the alignment of the embryonic and the uterine axes. We found that at the time that the blastocysts attached to the LE at the mural trophectoderm, the embryonic axis was not aligned with the uterine axis. Alignment of the embryonic E-Ab axis with the uterine M-AM axis occurred after E4.0, and the embryo was significantly elongated during the process. The depth of the implantation chamber (IC) correlated with the degree of alignment, suggesting that elongated embryos are oriented along the M-AM axis during IC formation. Transplantation of the Concanavalin A (Con A)-coated beads induced IC formation, and the alignment of two Con A-coated beads present in the same IC in the M-AM direction suggested that elongated materials can align along the M-AM axis. These data suggest that an elongated shape of the embryo and IC formation coordinate the alignment of the embryonic and uterine axes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Sakurai
- Division of Embryology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
- Deapartment of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Sanae Oka
- Division of Embryology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Yoko Higuchi
- Division of Embryology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Sonoko Ohsawa
- Model Organisms Facility, Trans-Scale Biology Center, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Fujimori
- Division of Embryology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
- Deapartment of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Japan
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Folts L, Martinez AS, McKey J. Tissue clearing and imaging approaches for in toto analysis of the reproductive system†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:1041-1054. [PMID: 38159104 PMCID: PMC11180619 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
New microscopy techniques in combination with tissue clearing protocols and emerging analytical approaches have presented researchers with the tools to understand dynamic biological processes in a three-dimensional context. This paves the road for the exploration of new research questions in reproductive biology, for which previous techniques have provided only approximate resolution. These new methodologies now allow for contextualized analysis of far-larger volumes than was previously possible. Tissue optical clearing and three-dimensional imaging techniques posit the bridging of molecular mechanisms, macroscopic morphogenic development, and maintenance of reproductive function into one cohesive and comprehensive understanding of the biology of the reproductive system. In this review, we present a survey of the various tissue clearing techniques and imaging systems, as they have been applied to the developing and adult reproductive system. We provide an overview of tools available for analysis of experimental data, giving particular attention to the emergence of artificial intelligence-assisted methods and their applicability to image analysis. We conclude with an evaluation of how novel image analysis approaches that have been applied to other organ systems could be incorporated into future experimental evaluation of reproductive biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian Folts
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO, USA
| | - Anthony S Martinez
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO, USA
| | - Jennifer McKey
- Section of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO, USA
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Granger K, Fitch S, Shen M, Lloyd J, Bhurke A, Hancock J, Ye X, Arora R. Murine uterine gland branching is necessary for gland function in implantation. Mol Hum Reprod 2024; 30:gaae020. [PMID: 38788747 PMCID: PMC11176042 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaae020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Uterine glands are branched, tubular structures whose secretions are essential for pregnancy success. It is known that pre-implantation glandular expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is crucial for embryo implantation; however, the contribution of uterine gland structure to gland secretions, such as LIF, is not known. Here, we use mice deficient in estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) signaling to uncover the role of ESR1 signaling in gland branching and the role of a branched structure in LIF secretion and embryo implantation. We observed that deletion of ESR1 in neonatal uterine epithelium, stroma, and muscle using the progesterone receptor PgrCre causes a block in uterine gland development at the gland bud stage. Embryonic epithelial deletion of ESR1 using a Müllerian duct Cre line, Pax2Cre, displays gland bud elongation but a failure in gland branching. Reduction of ESR1 in adult uterine epithelium using the lactoferrin-Cre (LtfCre) displays normally branched uterine glands. Unbranched glands from Pax2Cre Esr1flox/flox uteri fail to express glandular pre-implantation Lif, preventing implantation chamber formation and embryo alignment along the uterine mesometrial-antimesometrial axis. In contrast, branched glands from LtfCre Esr1flox/flox uteri display reduced expression of ESR1 and glandular Lif resulting in delayed implantation chamber formation and embryo-uterine axes alignment but mice deliver a normal number of pups. Finally, pre-pubertal unbranched glands in control mice express Lif in the luminal epithelium but fail to express Lif in the glandular epithelium, even in the presence of estrogen. These data strongly suggest that branched glands are necessary for pre-implantation glandular Lif expression for implantation success. Our study is the first to identify a relationship between the branched structure and secretory function of uterine glands and provides a framework for understanding how uterine gland structure-function contributes to pregnancy success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Granger
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Sarah Fitch
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - May Shen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Jarrett Lloyd
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Aishwarya Bhurke
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Jonathan Hancock
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Xiaoqin Ye
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ripla Arora
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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Granger K, Fitch S, Shen M, Lloyd J, Bhurke A, Hancock J, Ye X, Arora R. Murine uterine gland branching is necessary for gland function in implantation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.01.565233. [PMID: 37961508 PMCID: PMC10635073 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.01.565233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Uterine glands are branched, tubular structures whose secretions are essential for pregnancy success. It is known that pre-implantation glandular expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is crucial for embryo implantation, however contribution of uterine gland structure to gland secretions such as LIF is not known. Here we use mice deficient in estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) signaling to uncover the role of ESR1 signaling in gland branching and the role of a branched structure in LIF secretion and embryo implantation. We observed that deletion of ESR1 in neonatal uterine epithelium, stroma and muscle using the progesterone receptor PgrCre causes a block in uterine gland development at the gland bud stage. Embryonic epithelial deletion of ESR1 using a mullerian duct Cre line - Pax2Cre, displays gland bud elongation but a failure in gland branching. Surprisingly, adult uterine epithelial deletion of ESR1 using the lactoferrin-Cre (LtfCre) displays normally branched uterine glands. Intriguingly, unbranched glands from Pax2Cre Esr1flox/flox uteri fail to express glandular pre-implantation Lif, preventing implantation chamber formation and embryo alignment along the uterine mesometrial-antimesometrial axis. In contrast, branched glands from LtfCre Esr1flox/flox uteri display reduced expression of glandular Lif resulting in delayed implantation chamber formation and embryo-uterine axes alignment but deliver a normal number of pups. Finally, pre-pubertal unbranched glands in control mice express Lif in the luminal epithelium but fail to express Lif in the glandular epithelium even in the presence of estrogen. These data strongly suggest that branched glands are necessary for pre-implantation glandular Lif expression for implantation success. Our study is the first to identify a relationship between the branched structure and secretory function of uterine glands and provides a framework for understanding how uterine gland structure-function contributes to pregnancy success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Granger
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University
| | - Sarah Fitch
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University
| | - May Shen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University
| | - Jarrett Lloyd
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University
| | - Aishwarya Bhurke
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University
| | - Jonathan Hancock
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia
| | - Xiaoqin Ye
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia
| | - Ripla Arora
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University
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Xu QX, Madhavan M, Wei SW, Zhang WQ, Lu L, Wang KZ, Genna M, Song Y, Zhao Y, Shao HT, Kang JW, Fazleabas AT, Arora R, Su RW. Aberrant activation of Notch1 signaling in the mouse uterine epithelium promotes hyper-proliferation by increasing estrogen sensitivity. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22983. [PMID: 37249327 PMCID: PMC10263383 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201868rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In mammals, the endometrium undergoes dynamic changes in response to estrogen and progesterone to prepare for blastocyst implantation. Two distinct types of endometrial epithelial cells, the luminal (LE) and glandular (GE) epithelial cells play different functional roles during this physiological process. Previously, we have reported that Notch signaling plays multiple roles in embryo implantation, decidualization, and postpartum repair. Here, using the uterine epithelial-specific Ltf-iCre, we showed that Notch1 signaling over-activation in the endometrial epithelium caused dysfunction of the epithelium during the estrous cycle, resulting in hyper-proliferation. During pregnancy, it further led to dysregulation of estrogen and progesterone signaling, resulting in infertility in these animals. Using 3D organoids, we showed that over-activation of Notch1 signaling increased the proliferative potential of both LE and GE cells and reduced the difference in transcription profiles between them, suggesting disrupted differentiation of the uterine epithelium. In addition, we demonstrated that both canonical and non-canonical Notch signaling contributed to the hyper-proliferation of GE cells, but only the non-canonical pathway was involved with estrogen sensitivity in the GE cells. These findings provided insights into the effects of Notch1 signaling on the proliferation, differentiation, and function of the uterine epithelium. This study demonstrated the important roles of Notch1 signaling in regulating hormone response and differentiation of endometrial epithelial cells and provides an opportunity for future studies in estrogen-dependent diseases, such as endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Xin Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Manoj Madhavan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
| | - Shu-Wen Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wang-Qing Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ke-Zhi Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Moldovan Genna
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, USA
| | - Yong Song
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, USA
| | - Yu Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huan-Ting Shao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin-Wen Kang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Asgerally T. Fazleabas
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, USA
| | - Ripla Arora
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, USA
| | - Ren-Wei Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Vaccine Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
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Massri N, Loia R, Sones JL, Arora R, Douglas NC. Vascular changes in the cycling and early pregnant uterus. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e163422. [PMID: 37288662 PMCID: PMC10393238 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.163422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Uterine vascular remodeling is intrinsic to the cycling and early pregnant endometrium. Maternal regulatory factors such as ovarian hormones, VEGF, angiopoietins, Notch, and uterine natural killer cells significantly mediate these vascular changes. In the absence of pregnancy, changes in uterine vessel morphology and function correlate with different stages of the human menstrual cycle. During early pregnancy, vascular remodeling in rodents and humans results in decreased uterine vascular resistance and increased vascular permeability necessary for pregnancy success. Aberrations in these adaptive vascular processes contribute to increased risk of infertility, abnormal fetal growth, and/or preeclampsia. This Review comprehensively summarizes uterine vascular remodeling in the human menstrual cycle, and in the peri- and post-implantation stages in rodent species (mice and rats).
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Affiliation(s)
- Noura Massri
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program and
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Rachel Loia
- School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Sones
- Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Ripla Arora
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Nataki C. Douglas
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health and
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
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The people behind the papers – Manoj Madhavan and Ripla Arora. Development 2022; 149:275677. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.200959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The 3D architecture of the uterus plays a key role in determine pregnancy outcome. A new paper in Development reveals the dynamic changes in luminal folding pattern that occur during the preimplantation period in mice. To hear more about the story, we caught up with first author Manoj Madhavan and corresponding author Ripla Arora, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University.
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