Endocrine Abstracts

Many of the functions of ovarian steroids in regulating embryo-implantation occur through the actions of cytokines and growth factors on the uterus. One such cytokine, Leukaemia Inhibitory factor (LIF), is critical for implantation in a range of mammalian species. LIF is expressed transiently in the murine glandular uterine epithelium (GE) on day 1 and then day 4 of pregnancy (day of implantation) induced by estrogen. Female mice lacking a functional LIF gene cannot support em...