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Reproductive biology

Fatty link to fertility

Nature volume 435, pages 34–35 (2005)Cite this article

A short delay in the attachment of embryos to the wall of the womb during early pregnancy adversely affects later developmental processes. New evidence reinforces the need for lipids to regulate this event.

In mammals, the creation of new life depends on the union of a sperm and an egg. The fertilized egg then undergoes several cell divisions to form a differentiated tissue — the blastocyst. Next, an intricate molecular dialogue between blastocyst and uterus initiates the process of implantation, by which the blastocyst attaches to the lining of the uterus1,2. Low implantation rates are common in women undergoing assisted reproduction, posing a challenge to both patients and doctors, so researchers are striving towards a deeper understanding of this process. On page 104 of this issue, Ye et al.3 reveal a previously unknown and essential role for a small lipid signalling molecule, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), in normal implantation.

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Figure 1: Lipid signals in implantation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Departments of Pediatrics, Division of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Cell & Developmental Biology, and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, 37232-2678, Tennessee, USA

    S. K. Dey

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  1. S. K. Dey
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Dey, S. Fatty link to fertility. Nature 435, 34–35 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/435034a

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