ABSTRACT
Mammalians have developed a special organ, the uterus, which is responsible for protecting and supporting the development of an embryo in its host for a restricted phase.
As a consequence the uterine function is regulated by different sets of genes, one, hormonally independent, responsible for maintaining basic function of uterine tissues and others responsible for changes during cycling and pregnancy dependent on hormone serum levels. In addition, genes are required which are able to respond to embryonic signals as a consequence that the two partners, embryo and mother, have to interact reciprocally during pregnancy. To identify reasons of uterine dysfunction or to develop contraception concepts in a more sophisticated manner, it is of high interest to find key genes exclusively characteristic for the receptive phase of the endometrium.
