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Along with several hormones and growth factors, transforming growth factor-β(TGF- β) has been shown to be involved in animal reproductive processes. To further understand the potential functions of TGF-β in the uterus, studies on the expression of the three mammalian TGF-β isoforms (TGF-β1, -β2, and -β3) and receptors (type I and II ) in pregnant mouse uterus were carried out using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Temporal and distinct patterns of their expression were observed, showing that the mRNA of TGF-β1, β2, and -β3 were highly expressed during implantation and mid-pregnancy, during late pregnancy, and during postimplantation, respectively. In receptors, TβR I mRNA was highly expressed during preimplantation whereas TβR Ⅱ mRNA during postimplantation. Such temporal mRNA expressions of TGF-β isoforms and their receptors during pregnancy indicate that TGF-βs function temporally and imply that this distribution can be correlated with specific developmental processes.
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