Expression patterns of leukaemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) and the gp130 receptor component in rabbit uterus during early pregnancy.

The presence of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) binding and expression of the gp130 component of the LIF receptor were studied in the rabbit uterus during pregnancy. LIF binding to myometrium was moderate in oestrous and non-oestrous animals and on day 1 of pregnancy, declined on days 2 and 3, and increased to a peak value on days 5 and 6 of pregnancy. Binding to stromal cells was not observed. Binding of LIF to luminal and glandular epithelium was low in unmated animals and on days 1 and 2 of pregnancy. Binding to luminal epithelium increased from day 3, and to glandular epithelium from day 5 of pregnancy. Highest binding was seen on days 5 and 6, with a slight decline observed on day 7, and with little difference between the mesometrial and antimesometrial regions of the implantation site. In all cases, binding of LIF was similar in the uteri of day 6 pseudopregnant and pregnant animals. At all stages, gp130 was absent from stroma and almost absent from myometrium and glandular epithelium. It was expressed in luminal epithelium, reaching maximal expression on day 6 of pregnancy and pseudopregnancy, but diminished on day 7 of pregnancy, particularly in the antimesometrial area of the implantation site. The coexpression of LIF binding and gp130 may indicate the presence of high-affinity LIF receptor, which matches the pattern of LIF protein expression and, as in mice, suggests its importance for implantation.