The oxytocin (OT)-oxytocin receptor (OTR) system of the mammalian uterus has mainly been studied in relation to its involvement in the onset of labor. The aim of this study was to elucidate the in vivo expression and localization pattern of OTR in the mouse endometrium and embryo during implantation, as well as OTR mRNA expression in the in vitro developing mouse embryo. The expression of OTR or OT was detected immunohistochemically in uterine tissue sections of 5- to 8-week-old female mice between days 4 and 10 of an established pregnancy. In addition, the expression of OTR mRNA was detected by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in mouse oocytes and embryos up to the blastocyst stage. The mean ratios of normalized expression levels of OTR gene in all samples were also calculated. The recorded increase in OTR mRNA immediately after fertilization could mean a possible role of OT in this process, as OTR mRNA gradually decreased after the four-cell stage of pre-embryonic development. The differential expression of OTR during embryonic apposition and embryonic invasion/placentation in the mouse uterus suggests a potential role of OT in the implantation process of the mouse. It is possible that the interaction of OTR with the hormones included in the ovulation induction regiments utilized today in in vitro fertilization (IVF) could be affecting the receptivity/quality of the implanting endometrium.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1196/annals.1365.046 | DOI Listing |
J Med Invest
October 2024
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan.
Nutrients
August 2024
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
Lancet Reg Health Am
June 2024
Pulmonary Division, Heart Institute, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Background: The emergence of COVID-19 variants with immune scape and the waning of primary vaccine schemes effectiveness have prompted many countries to indicate first and second booster COVID-19 vaccine doses to prevent severe COVID-19. However, current available evidence on second booster dose effectiveness are mostly limited to high-income countries, older adults, and mRNA-based vaccination schemes scenarios. We aimed to investigate the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of the fourth dose compared to three doses for severe COVID-19 outcomes in Brazil; and compare the rVE of a fourth dose with an mRNA vaccine compared to adenovirus-based product in the same settings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuropharmacology
August 2024
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil. Electronic address:
The impact of environmental enrichment (EE) on natural rewards, including social and appetitive rewards, was investigated in male Swiss mice. EE, known for providing animals with various stimuli, was assessed for its effects on conditioned place preference (CPP) associated with ethanol and social stimuli. We previously demonstrated that EE increased the levels of the prosocial neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) in the hypothalamus and enhanced ethanol rewarding effects via an oxytocinergic mechanism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHorm Behav
June 2024
Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China. Electronic address:
Paternal deprivation (PD) impairs social cognition and sociality and increases levels of anxiety-like behavior. However, whether PD affects the levels of empathy in offspring and its underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The present study found that PD increased anxiety-like behavior in mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus), impaired sociality, reduced the ability of emotional contagion, and the level of consolation behavior.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!