| dc.description.abstract | Pregnancy is a complex period that requires many different biological processes, ultimately resulting in an inefficient system. A large portion of individual conceptus loss occurs during the peri-implantation period and later, during the period when the uterine- placental interface is folding. To determine how pregnancies can be affected, our lab studied the immunology of pregnancy during the peri-implantation period and the expression of aquaporins throughout gestation. Results of the present studies with pigs revealed: (1) accumulation of immune cells and apoptosis of stromal cells within the endometrium at sites of implantation during the period of IFNG secretion by conceptuses; (2) accumulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive T cells within the endometrium at sites of implantation; (3) significant increases in expression of T cell co- signaling receptors and chemokines within the endometrium at sites of implantation; (4) significant increases in T cell co-signaling receptors and the chemokine CXCL9 in the endometrium of cyclic gilts infused with IFNG; (5) identification of CD4+ (22.59%) as the major T cell subpopulation, with minor subpopulations of CD8+ (1.38%), CD4+CD25+ (1.08%), and CD4+CD8+ (0.61%) T cells within the endometrium at sites of implantation; (6) AQPs 1, 5, 8, and 9 show differential and discrete temporal cell-type specific protein expression by key tissues at the uterine-placental interface; and (7) AQPs 1 and 8 mRNA expression increases as pregnancy progresses to potentially provide the conceptus with water and nutrients necessary for development. Our results provide new insights into the complex events occurring during gestation, potential mechanisms explaining how the conceptus is signaling to the endometrium, and how the endometrium provides the conceptus with water and nutrients needed for growth and survival. | |
