哺乳动物的延迟着床及其分子调控

Molecular Regulation of Delayed Implantation in Mammals

延迟着床是指胚胎在发育到胚泡阶段时暂时进入休眠状态,并不立即着床。在这个时期,胚泡或者停止细胞分化与增长,以使其大小及内部细胞数量保持稳定,或者经历一个少量细胞发生分化的缓慢增长阶段。共有7个目中的近100种哺乳动物有延迟着床现象。延迟着床受光周期、哺乳刺激和营养等各方面因素的影响,同时还受激素和多种生长因子等调节。虽然各种动物中延迟着床的机制各不相同,但延迟着床均可有效地延长妊娠期,使该物种在一年中最适宜的时期进行交配和产仔。利用在小鼠或大鼠中建立的延迟着床模型,可模拟正常的胚胎着床过程,有利于研究胚胎着床过程中的分子调控机制。

Delayed implantation occurs when the conceptus enters a state of suspended animation at the blastocyst stage of development. Blastocysts may either cease cell division so that their size and cell numbers remain constant, or undergo a period of very slow growth with minimal cell division. There are almost 100 mammalian species in seven different mammalian orders undergoing delayed implantation. Many factors are involved in regulat- ing delayed implantation, including lactational stimulus, hormonal regulation, photoperiod and nutrition. Delayed implantation can effectively lengthen the gestation period, which allows mating to occur and young animals to be born at the optimal time.