Fig. 2. Implantation and decidualization in Pla2g4a^–/– mice. (A) The number of implantation sites was examined on days 5 and 6 of pregnancy in wild-type and Pla2g4a^–/– mice by the blue dye method. The numbers above the bars indicate the number of mice with implantation sites/total number of mice (unpaired t-test, *P<0.001). The uteri of mice with a few or without implantation sites were flushed to recover unimplanted blastocysts. The mice without implantation sites or blastocysts were excluded from the experiments. (B) A representative photomicrograph of blastocysts recovered from Pla2g4a^–/– mice on day 5 of pregnancy (1000 hours) is shown. Note blastocysts with (arrow) or without zona pellucida. (C) Representative photographs of uteri with implantation sites (blue bands) on days 5 and 6. Note very few or no implantation sites on day 5, but unevenly spaced implantation sites on day 6 in Pla2g4a^–/– mice. Arrowhead and arrow indicate ovary and implantation site, respectively. Brackets indicate crowding of implantation sites. (D) Decidualization. Wild-type or Pla2g4a^–/– mice received intraluminal oil infusion on day 4 of pseudopregnancy. On day 8, uterine weights were recorded. Fold increases denote comparison of weights between infused and non-infused uterine horns. The numbers above the bars indicate the number of responding mice/total number of mice. No significant difference in decidualization was noted between wild-type and Pla2g4a^–/– mice (unpaired t-test; P>0.05).

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