Molecular interactions at the embryo-maternal interface at the time of implantation is an exciting field demanding a wide effort in order to understand the crucial process of embryonic implantation. The objective of the present work is to demonstrate the existence of a specific communication pathway (at the molecular level) between embryo and endometrium in the adhesion phase of human embryonic...

The first 4 days of mouse pre-implantation development are characterized by a period of segmentation, including morphogenetic events that are required for the divergence of embryonic and extra-embryonic lineages. These extra-embryonic tissues are essential for the implantation into the maternal uterus and for the development of the foetus. In this review, we first discuss data showing unambiguo...

In this study, we examined the cytotoxic effects of curcumin, the yellow pigment of Curcuma longa, on the blastocyst stage of mouse embryos, subsequent embryonic attachment, and outgrowth in vitro and in vivo implantation by embryo transfer. Mouse blastocysts were incubated in medium with or without curcumin (6, 12 or 24 μM) for 24 h. Cell proliferation and growth were investigated using dual d...

Mammalian embryonic development is regulated by several cytokines and growth factors from embryonic or maternal origins. Since CSF-1 plays important role in embryonic development and implantation, we investigated its role in gram-negative bacterial LPS-induced implantation failure. The effect of LPS on normal (nonsuperovulated) and superovulated in vivo-produced embryos was assessed by signs of...

Embryonic implantation, the process by which the human embryo orientates towards, attaches to and finally invades the underlying maternal endometrial tissue, requires a receptive endometrium, a functionally normal blastocyst and an adequate cross-communication between them. During apposition, human blastocysts find a location in which to implant, while they are guided to a specific area in the ...