THE CHANGE IN TENASCIN EXPRESSION IN MOUSE UTERUS DURING EARLY-PREGNANCY

Purpose: Our aim was to examine the changes in spatiotemporal tenascin (TN) expression in mouse uterus during early pregnancy, when the uter ine tissue undergoes a tremendous restructuring. Methods: Using immuno histochemistry and in situ hybridization, the changes in distribution of TN protein in mouse uterine tissues in pregnancy Day 0 through Day 5 were analyzed. Results: Immunoreactive TN and TN mRNA were expressed in the basement membrane of the epithelium as well as in the smooth m uscle layer and their distribution shifted from the subbasement region on Day 0-3 to the smooth muscle layer on Days 4 and 5. Conclusions: T hese results indicate that TN expression in the uterus during early pr egnancy is spatiotemporally different and may be regulated by a differ ent mechanism.