Podcast: Role of OVGP1 protein in embryo implantation

/ Prasad Ravindranath

Deepak-OptimizedMumbai-based researchers have discovered how the embryo signals the endometrium to express the OVGP1 protein for a brief period at the time of implantation. They found that the OVGP1 protein is required for balancing the expression of a few genes required for embryo implantation. This work in long term might have implications in management of infertility.

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2 thoughts on “Podcast: Role of OVGP1 protein in embryo implantation”

  1. The research finding sounds interesting however the question is that if endometrium should be sensitized by the embryo to be prepared for the implantation, then there shouldn’t be implantation failures at all. Then the story is as simple as that whenever embryo arrives, the endometrium will express the protein and allow implantation. It is unclear who actually determines the window of implantation. I think there is a always something called as window of implantation during which endometrium express set of unique gene signature that makes endometrium (receptive phase) to host embryo only for the window of 24 hours. If the embryo arrives endometrium during this window, then implantation would be successful. If the embryo is implanted before or after receptive phase then the implantation failure occurs. We have this question because we have examined lot of cases where implantation failure occurred even though PGS screened normal embryos were implanted during the WOI. We believe that implantation window of the endometrium is independent of embryo’s arrival. We will be grateful to have your comments on this so that it will help enhance our interpretation. Thanks

    • Thank you Moutushy Mitra for reaching out and the important point.
      At any point we don’t refute on the requirements of a receptive endometrium. Implantation can not occur without it.
      Let me explain the current modified theory of embryo implantation. It is a three step process. 1) acquisition of a receptive endometrium 2) modifications of the receptive endometrium by embryonic signals 3) implantation and invasion of the embryo in response to endometrial signals.
      These are sequential processes. If the receptivity is not achieved or delayed the embryo will fail to implant and that is primary requirement.
      From this study and others we show that the second round of embryo induced signals are also critical and if the endometrium fails to respond or the embryo does not give right signals there will also be implantation failure.
      A receptive endometrium is necessary but not sufficent to ensure implantation. But a receptive endometrium is not a passive tissue that will ensure every embryo to implant.
      This explains why pgs selected embryo in a ERA diagnosed receptive endometrium yet fail to implant.
      I hope this has cleared the confusion.
      You may want to read our review on how this emrbyo endometrial cross talk on this link.
      https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2017-03082

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