착상기 이전 자궁에서 특이적 자궁내막 준비가 진행되어야 하는데, 이는 자궁 내막의 점진적 분화로 배아의 착상과 성공적 임신에 절대적으로 필요하다. 배아 발생 동안에 관찰되는 조직의 재구성은 세포외 기질을 포함한 다양한 요인에 의해 조절된다. 임신 동안에 관찰되는 극적인 변화로는 배아의 이동, 탈락막 반응, 태반의 분화를 그 예로 들 수 있다. 배아와 자궁간의 성공적 착상을 위한 변화들은 배아와 자궁의 착상을 위한 능력 갖출 수 있도록 한다. 이러한 변화

Specific endometrial preparation should occur during periimplantation period. That is a progress of serial differentiation and is absolute in implantation of embryo and successful pregnancy. Remodeling of tissues shown during embryogenesis is regulated by various factors including extracellular matrix (ECM). Marked changes during pregnancy are including embryo migration, decidual response, and differentiation of placenta in placental animals including human. These changes to successful implantation in embryo and uterus have to prepare the competence for attachment of embryo and uterus, and invasion defense of uterus. During these changes, ECM dramatically changes for maintaining the uterine and embryonic functions. The major component of most connective tissue is collagens. It is very complex and hard to explore the mechanisms for ECM modulation. Recently using high throughput methodology, PCR-select cDNA subtraction method, microarray, many candidate genes have been identified. Steroid hormones have fundamental role in implantation and maintenance of pregnancy. Dermatopontin, a regulator of collagen accumulation, is regulated spatio-temporally in the uterus by primarily progesterone through progesterone receptors at the time of implantation. Modulation of extracellular matrix is critically regulated by cascade of gene net-works which are regulated by cascade of sex steroid hormones. Pathological regulation of uterine extracellular matrix reported in diabetic patients. To know the extracellular modulation is essential to understanding implantation, feto-placental development and overcome the paths involved in female reproduction. Though ECM composed with very various components and it is complex, the present review focused on the fate of collagens during periimplantation period.

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