Expression of nidogens in rat uterus and embryo during decidualization and implantation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the expression of nidogen-1 and nidogen-2 and their possible role in decidualization and implantation events during early pregnancy in rats. The tissue samples were examined from pregnant animals between gestational days 1-8 using immunocytochemistry. The uterine luminal epithelium, the glandular epithelium, and the myometrial smooth muscle cells stained strongly from gestational days 1-8 with both nidogen antibodies. At day 4 the decidual reaction areas began to appear in the stromal matrix and immunostaining of both nidogens revealed that the basement membrane of the surface epithelium was discontinuous. The differentiation of stromal cells into decidual cells was seen at gestational day 5 and both nidogens were weakly expressed in the decidualizing cells. At day 6, nidogen-2 immunoreactivity was higher in the primary decidual cells close to the embryo than nidogen-1, and during development of the decidual tissue both nidogens appeared in the endometrial stromal cells. At day 7, while expression of both nidogens declined in the primary decidual cells, their expression was markedly observed in the secondary decidual cells close to the myometrium. At day 8, expression of both nidogens was also observed to increase in the primary decidual cells. While nidogen-2 expression was seen in the parietal endoderm and primary ectoderm of the rat embryos at this developmental stage, nidogen-1 expression was only detected in the parietal endoderm. These results indicate that nidogen-1 and nidogen-2 could play important roles during embryogenesis, decidualization, and implantation in the endometrium of rat uterus.

Effects of Low Progesterone on the Endometrial Transcriptome in Cattle1

“…This mRNA expression pattern is similar to that observed in rats during early pregnancy, whereby both NID1 and NID2 localized to the epithelium, basement membrane, glands, and capillaries as well as to the myometrium but were not detected in the stromal cells of the endometrium [44]. In conjunction with lamins and collagens, nidogens are involved in the formation of basement membranes in a number of tissue sites [45].…”

BMP4 signaling directs primitive endoderm-derived XEN cells to an extraembryonic visceral endoderm identity

“…Lama1, Lamb1-1 and Lamc1 ), and the expression levels of Nidogen 1 ( Nid1 ) and Vitrin ( Vit ) were reduced. Thus, several major components of Reichert’s membrane synthesized by PE cells were downregulated upon BMP4 treatment (Oner et al, 2006). …”

Expression of extracellular matrix proteins nidogen‐1 and legumain in endometrial carcinomas

“…Staining was completed with DAB Chromogen (DBS, Pleasanton, CA, USA) for 1–2 min, and slides were counterstained with Harris's hematoxylin, dehydrated and then cover‐slipped with Permount. All specimens were examined with a light microscope 4,8 …”

“…All specimens were examined with a light microscope. 4,8 Sections were evaluated concerning the localizations of NID1 and LGMN in a semiquantitative manner using a light microscope and selected areas were photographed. The intensity of staining was scored as negative (À), weak (+), moderate (++), or strong (+ ++).…”

“…The intensity of staining was scored as negative (À), weak (+), moderate (++), or strong (+ ++). 4,8 The intensity score was multiplied with the percentage of tumor tissue stained and the resulting score was recorded (range: 0 to 300). We investigated the role of NID1 in tumor invasion by comparing the expression of NID1 in two tumors, superficial and deep.…”