ACTION AND ROLE OF EGF IN THE UTERUS

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Clarifying the mechanisms of implantation and maintenance of pregnancy could contribute to not only increase in efficiency of domestic and wild animal reproduction but also tracing human infertility to its origin and regulation of birth rates.Many growth factors are expressed in the embryo and pregnant uterus, and these factors could play important role in implantation and maintenance of pregnancy. This study clarified that heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) has actions to stimulate development of preimplantation embryo and to induce implantation in the rat. Furthermore, infusion of very small amounts of anti-HB-EGF antibody into the uterine lumen inhibited implantation thereafter. It was speculated from these results that HB-EGF plays important roles during the implantation process. In addition, this study showed that in the goat uterus EGF and EGF receptor are localized mainly is the luminal and glandular epithelium, and infusion of EGF into the uterine lumen inhibits co … More ntractility of the uterus. This result suggests a possibility that EGF family of growth factors may contribute to implantation and maintenance of pregnancy through the regulation of uterine contraction. By the way, treatments with progesterone (P) antagonists interrupt pregnancy, because P is essential for maintenance of pregnancy. This study showed that even under this deficiency of P actions the fetuses continue to grow by incising the uterus to release fetuses from uterine pressure in late pregnant rats. The result suggests that P contributes to the maintenance of pregnancy by making the uterine physical environment suitable for fetal survival and growth. As it has been reported that expressions of some EGF-family members in the uterus are stimulated by P, it is likely that parts of P actions on the uterus is mediated by the family members. This possibility remains to be elucidated.In conclusion, this study strongly supports the idea that the EGF family of growth factors plays important roles in the implantation process and maintenance of pregnancy. Less