Messenger ribonucleic acid for the mouse decidual prolactin is present and induced during in vitro decidualization of endometrial stromal cells.

Although decidualization of endometrial stromal cells is crucial for blastocyst implantation and maintenance of pregnancy, its complex mechanism still remains largely unknown. To explore the mechanisms of decidualization, we have established an in vitro decidualization model in mice. Through extraction of mRNA from endometrial stromal cells for subsequent reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis, we found that two ovarian hormones, 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone, induced morphological changes and expression of mRNA for prolactin (PRL) and the decidual/trophoblastic PRL-related protein (d/tPRP) in cultured mouse endometrial stromal cells. The expression of mRNA for the decidual PRL was also detected in the mouse decidua in vitro. In conclusion, mouse mRNA for decidual PRL is present and induced by estradiol and progesterone through in vitro decidualization of endometrial stromal cells.