Elsevier, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 1-2(381), p. 272-279, 2013
DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2013.08.011
Oxford University Press (OUP), Biology of Reproduction, Suppl_1(87), p. 406-406
DOI: 10.1093/biolreprod/87.s1.406
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Embryo implantation requires a precise synchronism between the receptive uterus and activated blastocyst and is regulated by complicated molecular networks. Although many implantation-related genes have been identified, the crosstalk among them is still unknown. Snail, a transcription repressor, plays a central role during epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Our previous study showed that Snail is highly expressed at implantation site in mouse uterus. This study was to examine how Snail is related with other implantation-related genes in mice. Uterine stromal cells were isolated from mouse uteri on day 4 of pregnancy and treated with HB-EGF. Snail was induced significantly by HB-EGF. By using specific inhibitors and siRNA, we demonstrated that HB-EGF induction on Snail expression is dependent on the EGFR-ERK-Stat3 pathway. Cox-2 was regulated by Snail. The current findings demonstrate that Snail can relate with HB-EGF, Stat3 and Cox-2 and may play a role during mouse embryo implantation and decidualization.