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Infertility in female mice lacking the receptor for interleukin 11 is due to a defective uterine response to implantation

Nature Medicine volume 4, pages 303–308 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

During early pregnancy, in response to the implanting embryo, the surrounding uterine stroma undergoes a dramatic transformation into a specialized tissue known as the decidua. The de-cidua encapsulates the developing embryo, facilitating nutrient transfer and limiting tro-phoblast invasion. Here we show that female mice with a null mutation of the interleukin-11 receptor alpha chain are infertile because of defective decidualization. A temporal analysis revealed IL-11 expression is maximal in the normal pregnant uterus at the time of decidualization, and in situ hybridization studies showed expression of the IL-11 and the IL-11 receptor alpha chain in the developing decidual cells. These observations reveal a previously unrecognized critical role for IL-11 signaling in female reproduction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, 3050, Victoria, Australia

    Lorraine Robb, Ruili Li, Lynne Hartley, Harshal H. Nandurkar, Frank Koentgen & C. Glenn Begley

  2. Cooperative Research Centre for Cellular Growth Factors, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, 3050, Victoria, Australia

    Lorraine Robb, Harshal H. Nandurkar & C. Glenn Begley

  3. Bone Marrow Research Laboratories, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, 3050, Victoria, Australia

    C. Glenn Begley

Authors
  1. Lorraine Robb
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  2. Ruili Li
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  4. Harshal H. Nandurkar
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  5. Frank Koentgen
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  6. C. Glenn Begley
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Robb, L., Li, R., Hartley, L. et al. Infertility in female mice lacking the receptor for interleukin 11 is due to a defective uterine response to implantation. Nat Med 4, 303–308 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0398-303

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