The interferon-stimulated gene 15 (Isg15) encodes a ubiquitin-like protein that is induced in the endometrium by pregnancy in mice, humans and ruminants. Because ISG15 is a component of the innate immune system, we hypothesized that development of the embryo, fetus and postnatal pup may be impaired in mice lacking Isg15 (Isg15(-/-)) and that this development would be further impaired in response to environmental insults such as hypoxia. The number of implantation sites, resorption sites, dead embryos and the changes in overall gross morphology of the uterus were evaluated in Isg15(-/-) mice on Days 7.5 and 12.5 postcoitum (dpc). Postnatal development also was monitored from birth to 12 wk of age. On 7.5 dpc, the number of implantation sites and serum progesterone concentrations were similar. However, embryo mortality increased (P < 0.05) in Isg15(-/-) dams by 12.5 dpc, resulting in smaller litter sizes (4.2 ± 0.24 embryos; n = 83 litters) compared to Isg15(+/+) females (7.94 ± 0.32 pups; n = 47 litters). Embryo mortality in Isg15(-/-) mice was further exacerbated to 70% when dams were stressed through housing under hypoxic conditions (PB = 445 mmHg; 6.5-12.5 dpc). Transmission electron microscopy revealed lesions in antimesometrial decidua as well as trophobast cells adjacent to decidual cells on 7.5 dpc. ISG15 was localized to mesometrial decidua on 7.5 dpc. By 12.5 dpc, ISG15 was intensely localized to the labyrinth of the placenta. By 7.5 dpc, uterine natural killer cell (uNK) migration into the mesometrial pole was diminished by 65% and was less prevalent in Isg15(-/-) compared to Isg15(+/+) deciduum. Postnatal growth rate of offspring that survived to birth from Isg15(-/-) and Isg15(+/+) dams was not different. Embryo mortality occurs in pregnant Isg15(-/-) mice, is exacerbated by environmental insults like maternal hypoxia and might result from impaired early decidualization, vascular development and formation of the labyrinth.
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 3. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 10 May 2015.
All research outputs
#14,928,462
of 25,394,764 outputs
Outputs from Biology of Reproduction
#3,013
of 4,934 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#188,225
of 368,452 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Biology of Reproduction
#21
of 77 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 25,394,764 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 40th percentile – i.e., 40% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 4,934 research outputs from this source. They receive a mean Attention Score of 4.8. This one is in the 38th percentile – i.e., 38% of its peers scored the same or lower than it.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 368,452 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one is in the 48th percentile – i.e., 48% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
We're also able to compare this research output to 77 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 68% of its contemporaries.
