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Fig. 5. Cx43 is essential for decidual response and angiogenesis. (A) Expression of Cx43 in artificially decidualized uterus. Mice were subjected to artificial decidual stimulation. Uteri were collected at 0 (a) and 72 (b,c) hours following the application of the stimulus. Uterine sections were analyzed for Cx43 expression by immunohistochemistry. c is a higher magnification of the 72-hour sample. (B, upper) Gross morphology. Cx43^fl/fl (left) and Cx43^d/d (right) mice were subjected to artificial decidual stimulation for 48 hours as described in the Materials and methods. For each mouse, one uterine horn was stimulated, while the other horn was left undisturbed. The stimulated horn is indicated as `s' and the unstimulated one as `us'. (Middle) Comparative wet weight gains in uteri of Cx43^fl/fl and Cx43^d/d mice. Following artificial decidualization, stimulated and unstimulated horns were assessed for wet weight gain. The histogram shows the ratios of average weights of stimulated over unstimulated horns from Cx43^fl/fl and Cx43^d/d mice. The data are represented as means±s.e.m. (n=4). (Lower) Expression of Hoxa10 and Bmp2 mRNA in the uteri of Cx43^fl/fl and Cx43^d/d mice. Total RNA was isolated from uteri collected 96 hours after the application of the artificial decidual stimulus and qPCR analysis was performed using gene-specific primers. (C) Immunohistochemical staining for Pecam in artificially decidualized uteri. Uterine sections of Cx43^fl/fl (a) and Cx43^d/d (b) mice are shown. The results are representative of two independent experiments.

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