Characterization of Calreticulin Expression in Mouse Endometrium during Embryo Implantation

Abstract

Calreticulin (CRT), a Ca2+-binding storage protein and chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum, modulates cell adhesiveness and integrin-dependent Ca2+ signaling. However, the role of CRT during implantation remains poorly understood. In the present study, we characterized the expression of CRT mRNA and the protein in mouse endometria from pregnancy DI to D7. Real-Time PCR and in situ hybridization results showed that the levels of CRT mRNA in the endometria of pregnant mice were significantly higher than those of non-pregnant mice (P<0.05). These findings suggest that CRT may play an important role in embryo implantation in mice.

Keywords

• Calreticulin
• Endometrium
• Embryo implantation
• Mouse