Expression of laminin chain-specific gene transcripts in mouse uterine tissues during peri-implantation period.

Laminin may be involved in uterine re-organization and embryo attachment to the uterine wall during the peri-implantation period. In the present study using a competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the precise expression patterns of laminin chain (A, B1, and B2)-specific mRNAs were examined in mouse uterine tissues during the peri-implantation period. Although Northern blot hybridization failed to detect laminin A chain mRNA in mouse uterus, RT-PCR analysis showed that laminin A chain mRNA was present even at the lower level compared with B1 and B2 chain mRNA levels. Competitive RT-PCR revealed that approximately 3 x 10(6), 3.6 x 10(7), and 4 x 10(8) copies of A, B1, and B2 chain mRNA transcripts were present in 1 microgram of total RNA isolated from the uterus. During pregnancy, the A chain mRNA level was significantly increased only from day 6 after post-hCG when embryo attachment and decidualization started. Elevated level of A chain mRNA was sustained thereafter. Laminin A chain mRNA synthesized at this period was mainly originated from stroma decidual cells. The discrete elevation of laminin A chain mRNA level was also observed after estrogen stimulation in the delayed implantation model. Estrogenic stimulation to ovariectomized, progesterone-treated pregnant mice resulted in about a three-fold increase of laminin A chain mRNA levels. In contrast to A chain mRNA, both B1 and B2 chain mRNA levels were insignificantly altered during the peri-implantation period and delayed implantation by an estrogenic stimulation. Taken together, our results for the first time demonstrate that: (1) laminin A chain mRNA as well as B chain mRNAs is expressed in mouse uterus, (2) its mRNA level is significantly increased along with implantation process, and (3) ovarian steroids, especially estrogen, are likely to be involved in the regulation of laminin gene expression in the uterus.