The female mice and some other mammals, naturally they can delay pregnancy. Researchers have identified the molecular mechanism behind the extraordinary abilities that are not possessed by humans.
Capability, known as embryonic diapause, allowing female individuals could temporarily disable the "pregnant button" on their bodies. This can be done when the female face of unfavorable environmental conditions for survival and later babies born.
"We found the responsible gene for stopping and continuing the pregnancy," said Sudhansu Dey from the Cincinnati Children's Research Institute, was quoted as saying by LiveScience, on April 24, 2103.
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| Dey's team used hormones to induce pregnancy delays in mice, mink and Tammar wallabies. (Picture from: http://www.scienceworldreport.com/) |
Fertilized egg will form a group of cells that attach to the parent uterine wall that called blastocysts. However, during diapause, blastocyst development is stopped and preserved until the mother wanted to continue the pregnancy.
This process was a mystery, until the Dey and his colleagues are studying the embryo implantation process in mice, they realizing that a gene called MSX1 is very active prior to implantation. "We began to suspect this gene may play a role in diapause," he said.
The research deepened by using hormones to induce delay pregnancy in mice, stoats, and Tammar wallaby. During the pregnancy delay period, the researchers measured how active MSX1 and other related genes involved in protein-making instructions. "MSX1 genes in all three animals are more active during pregnancy delayed periode," Dey said about the results of their research.
The experiment result published online in the Open Biology journal, also confirms that the MSX1 gene is responsible for making proteins. These findings are particularly interesting because the MSX1 genes (including part of the ancient family gene) have been stored in the body of mice, stoats, and Tammar wallabies during the evolution period. Genes that have an important role for delaying pregnancy when habitat conditions are not "friendly."
Further research would certainly want to know the diapause impact on humans. "If they can maintain MSX1 at higher levels in humans, perhaps we could extend the receptive phase to fertilization," said Dey. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 4211]
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