A newly discovered protein that is produced by health embryos may help mothers better adapt to pregnancy, according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The protein, called Preimplantation Factor, can improve maternal immunity, improve the attachment of embryos during the first trimester and help with cell development.
For the study, a team of colleagues from Yale University used cells sampled from the uterine lining of both pregnant and non-pregnant women. Observing the cells in culture, the researchers found that when the samples were exposed to the protein, they altered the process of implantation, which is the attachment of the fertilized egg to the uterine lining.
“[The protein] appears to be essential for pregnancy to succeed,” said Michael Paidas, an associate professor and co-director of the Yale Women and Childrens Center for Blood Disorders. He added that “for several decades, investigators have tried to isolate a compound that was absolutely required for pregnancy, and we believe that [protein] is in fact that compound.”
In 2006, more than 4.2 million live births occurred in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.