Maternal communication with gametes and embryos: a complex interactome.

Maternal communication with gametes and embryos influences a broad range of events crucial to pregnancy. Events such as final maturation of gametes, gamete transport, fertilization, early embryonic development and development of foetus to term, are all dependant upon the relay of appropriate molecular signals between the mother, gametes and embryos. This signalling is temporally and spatially regulated, involving complex interactions. Disturbances in maternal communication with gametes and embryos can influence the outcome of pregnancy. Effects range from those that are immediately obvious, such as spontaneous miscarriage (due to inappropriate hormonal signalling), to more subtle consequences that may not become apparent until offspring reach adulthood ('foetal origins' hypothesis). Current knowledge of the factors and mechanisms involved in maternal communication with gametes and embryos is limited to only a few individual pathways. There is a need for a holistic view of all actions and interactions taking place during this crosstalk between the gametes, embryos and the female reproductive tract. Applying high-throughput genomic and proteomic analysis tools and systems biology approaches, together with mathematical modelling would allow construction of an in silico model for the temporal sequence of events involved. Ultimately this will help identify different dimensions of maternal communication with gametes and embryos in health and disease.