Prokineticin 1-prokineticin receptor 1 signaling promotes angiogenesis in the porcine endometrium during pregnancy †.

Prokineticin 1-prokineticin receptor 1 signaling promotes angiogenesis in the porcine endometrium during pregnancy†. Biol Reprod. 2020 Apr 30;: Authors: Goryszewska E, Kaczynski P, Balboni G, Waclawik A Abstract Pregnancy establishment in mammals, including pigs, requires proper communication between embryos and the maternal reproductive tract. Prokineticin 1 (PROK1) has been described as a secretory protein with pleiotropic functions and as a novel tissue-specific angiogenic factor. However, despite the studies performed mainly on human cell lines and in mice, the function of PROK1 in the endometrium during early pregnancy is still not fully elucidated. We hypothesized that PROK1 contributes to pregnancy establishment in the pig. The present study is the first to report that the expression of PROK1 and its receptor (PROKR1) is elevated in the porcine endometrium during implantation and the early placentation period. PROK1 protein was detected mainly in luminal epithelial cells, glandular epithelial cells and blood vessels in the endometrium. Using the porcine in vivo model of unilateral pregnancy, we revealed that conceptuses induced the endometrial expression of PROK1 and PROKR1. Moreover, the embryonic signal, estradiol-17β, as well as progesterone, stimulated the endometrial expression of PROK1 and PROKR1. We also evidenced that PROK1-PROKR1 signaling supports endometrial angiogenesis in the pig. The PROK1-stimulated prolifera...
Source: Biology of Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tags: Biol Reprod Source Type: research