Orazizadeh Mahmoud, Khorsandi Layasadat, Saki Ghasem
Cellular and Molecular Research Center (CMRC), Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. ; Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Iran J Reprod Med. 2013 Feb;11(2):119-26.
Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a β-galactoside-binding lectin, is a multifunctional lectin that involves in a number of critical biological processes.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of Gal-3 in mouse endometrium during estrus phase of estrous cycle and pre-implantation.
In this experimental study 42 NMRI female mice were divided in seven different groups. Ovulation in NMRI female mice was stimulated by injecting hMG and hCG. Estrus phase was considered as stimulated and un-stimulated groups. The other groups of mice were mated, and the day of vaginal plug formation was considered as the day 1 of pregnancy. The mice of all groups were sacrificed on different days of pre-implantation period and their uterine horns were fixed and avidin- biotin complex method of immunohistochemistry (IHC) was applied.
In estrus group, Gal-3 immunoreactivity in luminal epithelium was strong, in stromal cells very strong, in glandular epithelium very weak and endothelial cells very strong. No identifiable difference was observed in un-stimulated and stimulated estrus phase. In test groups, days 1-2, insignificant difference of Gal-3 expression was observed. On day 3, luminal epithelium and stromal cells showed significant decrease in comparison to estrus and day 1 (p=0.001). On the 4(th) and 5(th) days, luminal epithelium and stromal cells showed significant decrease in comparison to estrus phase and days 1-3 (p=0.0001).
The data suggested that successful implantation is probably associated with the downregulation of Gal-3 in the mouse endometrium at the beginning of pregnancy.
半乳糖凝集素-3（Gal-3）是一种β-半乳糖苷结合凝集素，是一种参与许多关键生物学过程的多功能凝集素。
本研究旨在探讨Gal-3在小鼠发情周期发情期和着床前子宫内膜中的表达模式。
在本实验研究中，42只NMRI雌性小鼠被分为7个不同的组。通过注射人绝经期促性腺激素（hMG）和人绒毛膜促性腺激素（hCG）刺激NMRI雌性小鼠排卵。发情期分为刺激组和未刺激组。其他组的小鼠进行交配，将出现阴道栓的当天视为妊娠第1天。在着床前期的不同天数处死所有组的小鼠，固定其子宫角，并应用免疫组织化学（IHC）的抗生物素蛋白-生物素复合物方法。
在发情组中，腔上皮中的Gal-3免疫反应性强，基质细胞中非常强，腺上皮中非常弱，内皮细胞中非常强。在未刺激和刺激的发情期未观察到明显差异。在试验组中，第1-2天，Gal-3表达无明显差异。在第3天，与发情期和第1天相比，腔上皮和基质细胞显示出显著下降（p=0.001）。在第4天和第5天，与发情期和第1-3天相比，腔上皮和基质细胞显示出显著下降（p=0.0001）。
数据表明，成功着床可能与妊娠初期小鼠子宫内膜中Gal-3的下调有关。
