Bioscientifica Proceedings

Structural patterning and functional programming of uterine tissues are mechanistically coupled. These processes ensure anteroposterior differentiation of uterine tissues from adjacent segments of the developing female reproductive tract (FRT) and radial patterning that establishes uterine-specific histoarchitecture and functionality. Uterine organogenesis begins prenatally and is completed postnatally. Genes required for FRT development include Pax2, Lim 1<...

Uterine differentiation in cattle and sheep begins prenatally, but is completed postnatally. Mechanisms regulating this process are not well defined. However, studies of urogenital tract development in murine systems, particularly those involving tissue recombination and targeted gene mutation, indicate that the ideal uterine organizational programme evolves epigenetically through dynamic cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions that define the microenvironmental conte...

The capacity of pig uterine tissues to recognize and respond to maternal and conceptus signals determines whether pregnancy can be established and defines the environment in which embryonic and fetal growth occur. Limits of uterine capacity may be defined genetically. However, the extent to which functional uterine capacity approaches genetic potential may be determined, in part, by the success of organizational events associated with growth, morphogenesis and cytodiffere...