Grant: Operating Grant

One of the crucial events during mammalian embryogenesis is the process of implantation. In the mouse, attachment of the free-floating blastocyst to the uterine epithelium of the endometrium occurs on day 4.5 of gestation. The process of implantation is highly regulated and several signaling pathways have been shown to play an important role in this process. For proper implantation to occur, the uterus must prepare to receive the embryo, whereas the blastocyst must be in a competent state for implantation. Furthermore, communication between the embryo and the uterus is essential for successful implantation. Although implantation is crucial for embryonic development, little is known on the signaling molecules implicated in this process. Our lab has recently undertaken the task of identifying signaling pathways that are required for implantation. Our preliminary analysis has demonstrated that a member of the TGFb family of signaling molecules, Nodal, is expressed in the uterus at the time of implantation. This proposal is aimed at characterizing the expression pattern of Nodal during the peri-implantation period and to determine its function in the implantation process.