Spencer Thomas E
Department of Animal Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.
Semin Reprod Med. 2014 Sep;32(5):346-57. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1376354. Epub 2014 Jun 24.
All mammalian uteri contain glands in the endometrium that synthesize or transport and secrete substances essential for survival and development of the conceptus (embryo/fetus and associated extraembryonic membranes). This review summarizes information related to the biological roles of uterine glands and their secretions in blastocyst/conceptus survival and implantation, uterine receptivity, and stromal cell decidualization in humans and animal models. The infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss observed in the ovine uterine gland knockout (UGKO) model unequivocally supports a primary role for uterine glands and, by inference, their secretions present in uterine luminal fluid in survival and development of the conceptus. Further, studies with mutant and progesterone-induced UGKO mice found that uterine glands and their secretions are required for establishment of uterine receptivity and blastocyst implantation as well as stromal cell decidualization. Similarly in humans, uterine glands and their secretory products are likely critical regulators of blastocyst implantation, uterine receptivity, and conceptus growth and development during the first trimester. Circumstantial evidence suggests that deficient glandular activity may be a causative factor in pregnancy failure and complications in humans. Thus, an increased understanding of uterine gland biology is important for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of fertility and pregnancy problems in mammals.
所有哺乳动物的子宫在内膜中都含有腺体，这些腺体合成、运输并分泌对于孕体（胚胎/胎儿及相关的胚外膜）的存活和发育至关重要的物质。本综述总结了有关子宫腺体及其分泌物在人类和动物模型中对囊胚/孕体存活与着床、子宫容受性以及基质细胞蜕膜化的生物学作用的信息。在绵羊子宫腺体敲除（UGKO）模型中观察到的不育和复发性流产明确支持了子宫腺体的主要作用，由此推断，子宫腺体及其存在于子宫腔液中的分泌物对孕体的存活和发育起着主要作用。此外，对突变型和孕酮诱导的UGKO小鼠的研究发现，子宫腺体及其分泌物对于子宫容受性的建立、囊胚着床以及基质细胞蜕膜化是必需的。同样在人类中，子宫腺体及其分泌产物可能是孕早期囊胚着床、子宫容受性以及孕体生长和发育的关键调节因子。间接证据表明，腺体活性不足可能是人类妊娠失败和并发症的一个致病因素。因此，深入了解子宫腺体生物学对于诊断、预防和治疗哺乳动物的生育和妊娠问题具有重要意义。
