Fig. 7

Location of Notch2 (N2) in relation to endothelial cells and mural cells in the peri-implantation uterus. H&E and double staining IF of E3.5 (A – D) and E6.5 (E – H) uterine sections. Ovals indicate areas of the uteri magnified (B1 – D1, F1 – H1). (A) H&E at E3.5 highlighting the luminal epithelium (arrows), and myometrium (myo), and endometrial stroma (st). (B – D) Notch2⁺ cells are observed throughout the stroma, myometrium and serosa (s), with low levels of Notch2 in endometrial glands (g). (B) Notch2 and CD31. Notch2⁺ cells in association with CD31⁺ ECs are scattered sparsely throughout the endometrium (arrrowhead in B1) and serosa (s). (C) Notch2 and PDGFR-β. Notch2 is not associated with PDGFR-β⁺ mural cells in the stroma and myometrium. (D) Notch2 and SMA. SMA⁺ smooth muscle cells are observed adjacent to Notch2⁺ cells in myometrium. Some uterine smooth muscle cells express both Notch2 and SMA. (E) H&E at E6.5 highlighting the embryo (e), inter-implantation sites (i), and myometrium (myo). (F – H) Notch2⁺ cells are observed throughout the myometrium. (F) Notch2 and CD31. Notch2 is not expressed in CD31⁺ decidual vessels. (G) Notch2 and PDGFR-β. Notch2 is not associated with PDGFR-β in the decidua or myometrium. (H) Notch2 and SMA staining. SMA⁺ smooth muscle cells are observed adjacent to Notch2⁺ cells in myometrium. Some uSMCs express both Notch2 and SMA. DAPI identifies all nuclei in IF images. am, anti-mesometrial; m, mesometrial. Bar in A and E =100 μm. Bar in B – D and F – H =500 μm. Bar in B1 – D1 and F1 – H1 = 50 μm.