Title: Preimplantation embryo-secreted factors modulate maternal gene expression in rat uterus

Speaker: Associate Professor Nobuhiko Yamauchi (Kyushu University, Japan)

Time: 9:30-12:00 am, December9th, 2018 (Sunday)

Venue: Room No. 4143, Building 4, North Campus, College of Veterinary Medicine

Abstract:

In mammalian reproduction, embryo implantation to the uterus spatiotemporally regulated by a complex process and which is triggered by a number of factors. Although the previous studies suggested that the uterine receptivity is mediated by blastocyst-derived factors, but specific functions of embryos remain to be defined during preimplantation. Therefore, the present study was conducted to identify the maternal genes regulated by embryo-secreted factors in the rat uterus. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) data revealed that 10 genes were up regulated in the delayed implantation uterus compared to the uterus of pseudopregnancy. The results from RNAseq were further verified by real time quantitative PCR and it was observed that Sulf1 expression was significantly (P<0.05) induced in the delayed implantation uterus, although Areg, Calca, Fxyd4, Lamc3 showed remarkable expression level but the expression level was not statistically significant. During early pregnancy, Areg, Calca, Fxyd4, Lamc3 and Sulf1 expression at 3.5 days post coitus (dpc) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of 1.5 dpc. Finally, embryo-conditioned media treatment revealed that Lamc3 and Sulf1 were up-regulated compared to other genes studied. These results suggest that embryo derived factors regulate the maternal gene expression and Lamc3 and Sulf1 can be the possible markers for response study to embryo-secreted factors, and thus further embryo-maternal communications will be possible to better understanding.

A Brief Introduction to the Speaker:

Dr. Nobuhiko Yamauchi graduated and acquired his Ph.D degree from Tohoku University, Japan in 1995. From 2003 to the present, He was an associate professor of Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyushu University. Dr. Yamauchi is a famous reproductive physiologist in Japan, whose research interest focusing on embryo implantation. Dr. Yamauchi published more than 80 papers in international academic journals, such as Biology of Reproduction, Journal of Reproduction and Development, American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, and American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism.

All the teachers and students are welcome to attend this seminar.

College of Veterinary Medicine

December 5th, 2018