Expression of Connexin 43 in the Mouse Uterus during implantation
Implantation is the process in which a fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining of placental mammals and specific hormones leads to the expression of specific genes in different cell types. This research focuses on the gap junction protein Connexin 43, which is up regulated during decidualization. We studied this protein using artificial decidualization, reverse transcriptase to translate RNA to cDNA, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to measure cDNA replication and immunohistochemistry, to detect this protein on maternal tissue. Our research proves that Connexin 43 is differentially expressed in the uterus during pregnancy and that its expression increases in decidual cells. This research will help in the further investigation of genes that might help in the process of implantation.
School:
University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón
Department:
Human Biology
Research Advisor:
Dr. Indrani Bagchi and Dr. Milan Bagchi
Department of Research Advisor:
Reproductive Biology and Dr. Milan Bagchi
Year of Publication:
2004