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Uterine Secretory Activity and Embryo Development

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Book cover Preimplantation Embryo Development

Abstract

The uterus is an exocrine organ active in secretion and responsive to steroid hormones. In mature nonpregnant females, the uterine endometrium undergoes cyclical changes of secretory activity and cellular regeneration and loss in response to steroid and possibly other hormones, while during pregnancy it usually comes under the dominant long-term control of progesterone. It is clear that in all species studied, steroid hormones strongly influence the pattern of endometrial protein synthesis and secretion. Dozens of descriptive studies have been published, and there has been considerable speculation (but little proof) that these proteins are somehow involved in events critical to the reproductive process; for example, in promoting conceptus growth, providing nourishment, controlling implantation, and dampening maternal immune responses.

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© 1993 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.

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Roberts, R.M., Trout, W.E., Mathialagan, N., Stallings-Mann, M., Ling, P. (1993). Uterine Secretory Activity and Embryo Development. In: Bavister, B.D. (eds) Preimplantation Embryo Development. Serono Symposia, USA Norwell, Massachusetts. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9317-7_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9317-7_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-9319-1

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