Figure 3

Silencing expression of progesterone receptor (PGR) and signal transducer and activator of transcription facor 1 (STAT1) in uterine luminal (LE) and superficial glandular (sGE) epithelia is a prerquisite for implantation in mammals. Therefore, progesterone acts via PGR-positive uterine stromal cells to increase expression of fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF7) and FGF10, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in sheep uteri. These progestamedins and interferon tau (IFNT) then exert paracrine effects on uterine epithelia and conceptus trophectoderm to stimulate gene expression and secretory responses by trophectoderm and uterine LE and sGE.