# GENE EXPRESSION IN ENDOMETRIUM

> **NIH NIH R29** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 1994 · $99,349

## Abstract

Human endometrium is a dynamic tissue whose components undergo cyclic
changes under the influence of steroid hormones.  Blastocyst nidation
occurs in secretory endometrium, and its growth and development are
believed to be directly influenced by local endometrial conditions.
Proteins that bind with high affinity the insulin-like growth factors (IGF-
I and -II), peptides with broad mitogenic effects, have been identified in
secretory endometrium and human decidua.  IGF receptors and mRNAs encoding
the IGFs have also been identified in endometrium, and this IGF
autocrine/paracrine system is believed to play a role in cyclic endometrial
differentiation and trophoblastic growth.  The ultimate goals of this
laboratory are to determine optimal endometrial conditions for successful
embryo implantation and to examine endometrial gene expression in response
to steroid hormones.  The specific goals of this project are to determine
the ontogeny of the IGFs, their binding proteins (bps) and their receptors
in the changing hormonal milieu of the endometrium and to determine in
which cell types they are synthesized.

Endometrial tissue from biopsy and hysterectomy specimens will be used as a
source of RNA as well as of stromal cells for culture.  Tissue from
different cycle stages have been exposed to a changing hormonal environment
in vivo, and cultured cells will be exposed to a variety of hormonal
stimuli in vitro.  Effects on cellular gene expression subsequently will be
examined.  Induction and regulation of IGF-bp, growth factor, and receptor
mRNA will be determined by RNA hybridization analysis using cDNA probes
encoding these proteins and RNA isolated from tissue and cells.  A
ribonuclease protection assay will be used to detect IGF-I mRNAs.
Expression of IGF-bp mRNAs relative to each other will be examined by in
vitro translation of poly A+ RNA and immunoprecipitation of translated bps
using specific antisera.  To verify protein synthesis of the IGF-bps in
tissues and cells, cross-linking studies, Western immunoblots and ligand
blots of tissue extracts and conditioned media will be performed.  A
sensitive radioimmunoassay will be used to detect IGF-I and -II peptide
synthesis.  In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical studies will
confirm mRNA expression and protein synthesis, respectively, of the IGFs,
their binding proteins and receptors as well as define their cells of
origin.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2199445
- **Project number:** 5R29HD025220-05
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HJD6G4D6TJY5
- **Principal Investigator:** LINDA C GIUDICE
- **Activity code:** R29 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $99,349
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1990-04-01 → 1996-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2199445

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2199445, GENE EXPRESSION IN ENDOMETRIUM (5R29HD025220-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2199445. Licensed CC0.

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