Placentation in Mammals

Dr. Rodney Geisert is a Professor in the Division of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri.  His research has focused on elucidating the expression of genes involved with regulation of early conceptus development and uterine function.  Research from his laboratory has described and identified the cellular and molecular processes involved with rapid trophoblastic elongation of pig conceptuses during early gestation. His laboratory has established that specific cellular changes in progesterone and estrogen receptors are involved with critical events in uterine secretion and embryonic development and placental attachment in the pig.  Rapid conceptus elongation and estrogen release are both essential for maintenance of pregnancy in the pig.  Although conceptus estrogen synthesis and release has been implicated in maternal recognition of pregnancy in the pig by others, his laboratory were the first to indicate that there were two phases of conceptus estrogen secretion needed for establishment of pregnancy to term.  The model established how placental attachment is initiated in the pig and regulation of conceptus cytokines such as IL-1b and prostaglandins such as PGE play an essential role in the initiation and maintenance of placental attachment. His laboratory has utilized gene editing technology to knockout key conceptus genes to determine their specific role in the establishment of pregnancy.

Dr. Tom Spencer is a Curators’ Distinguished Professor in the Division of Animal Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health at the University of Missouri.  His research program has discovered key physiological and genetic mechanisms regulating development and function of the uterus and placenta and seeks to translate that knowledge to improvement of fertility in domestic animals and humans. His research in reproductive and developmental biology utilizes a number of different animal models (sheep, beef cattle, dairy cattle, mice) as well as human tissues. Broadly, current discovery foci of the program include understanding: (1) cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating gland development and function in the uterus using genetically engineered mice and sheep; (2) genetic pathways regulating fertility in beef cattle, dairy cattle, mice and humans; and (3) physiological pathways regulating pregnancy recognition and establishment using cattle, sheep and mice. Notable research efforts established the essential roles of uterine glands in implantation and pregnancy establishment and elucidated how endogenous retroviruses regulate placental development in mammals.