Crim1 has an essential role in glycogen trophoblast cell and sinusoidal-trophoblast giant cell development in the placenta

Abstract

Normal placental development and function is essential for fetal growth of eutherian mammals. Mutational studies have shown that numerous growth factors are required for placental development and differentiation of placental lineages. Here, using a gene-trap mutant mouse line, Crim1(KST264), we show that Crim1 is essential for murine placental development. Crim1 is a developmentally expressed, trans-membrane regulator of growth factor activity. Crim1(KST264/KST264) mutant placentae displayed hypoplasia from 13.5 dpc, and altered structure from 15.5 dpc, including alterations in cell number in both the junctional and labyrinth zones. Using the reporter gene from the Crim1(KST264) allele, we f..