Overview

• Scientists used living mouse uterine tissue ex vivo to observe embryo attachment, invasion, and early development directly.
• The system delivered over 90% success in embryo attachment with subsequent embryogenesis and trophoblast invasion.
• Maternal COX-2 was locally induced at attachment sites, mirroring features of in vivo implantation.
• Experiments showed maternal COX-2 activity modulates embryonic AKT, and activated AKT restored implantation when COX-2 was inhibited.
• Unlike prior models lacking uterine cells, this platform adds maternal tissue context but currently cannot sustain development beyond embryonic day 5.5.