Abstract
Purpose: Our purpose was to study the role of inhibin/activin during embryogenesis.
Methods: Transcripts of inhibin/activin subunits (α, β A , β B ), activin receptors (types I and II), and follistatin were detected by a reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction in human reproductive cells and preembryos cultured alone or co-cultured with human endometrial cells.
Results: Transcripts of α, β A , β B subunits were all detected in granulosa luteal cells, but only β A units were detected in endometrial stromal and decidualized cells. In human preimplantation embryos, none of these subunits were detected in embryos from the four-cell to the morula stage and only β A subunits were detectable in blastocyst embryos. Activin receptors were detectable in all of the studied embryos and cells. Transcripts of β A , activin receptors, and follistatin were differentially expressed in human preimplantation embryos cultured in vitro and their expressions were significantly enhanced with the presence of endometrial stromal cells.
Conclusions: Our data suggest that there is a possible endometrium–embryo interaction via endometrial activins and preimplantation embryo receptors and that the embryonic expressions of these activins, their receptors, and binding proteins are dependent on embryonic stage.
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He, ZY., Liu, HC., Mele, C.A. et al. Expression of Inhibin/Activin Subunits and Their Receptors and Binding Proteins in Human Preimplantation Embryos. J Assist Reprod Genet 16, 73–80 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022564722353
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022564722353