Hai-Quan Wang, Yang Liu, Dong Li, Jing-Yu Liu, Yue Jiang, Yuanlin He, Ji-Dong Zhou, Zhi-Long Wang, Xin-Yi Tang, Yang Zhang, Xin Zhen, Zhi-Wen Cao, Xiao-Qiang Sheng, Chao-Fan Yang, Qiu-Ling Yue, Li-Jun Ding, Ya-Li Hu, Zhi-Bin Hu, Chao-Jun Li, Gui-Jun Yan, Hai-Xiang Sun
Embryo implantation requires temporospatial maternal-embryonic dialog. Using single-cell RNA sequencing for the uterus from 2.5 to 4.5 days post-coitum (DPC) and bulk sequencing for the corresponding embryos of 3.5 and 4.0 DPC pregnant mice, we found that estrogen-responsive luminal epithelial cells (EECs) functionally differentiated into adhesive epithelial cells (AECs) and supporting epithelial cells (SECs), promoted by progesterone. Along with maternal signals, embryonic Pdgfa and Efna3/4 signaling activated AECs and SECs, respectively, enhancing the attachment of embryos to the endometrium and furthering embryo development...
August 22, 2023: Developmental Cell