Eotaxin is required for eosinophil homing into the stroma of the pubertal and cycling uterus

Abstract

The presence of eosinophils in the endometrium of rodents during the estrous cycle or after E2 administration to ovariectomized animals is well documented. Nevertheless, the chemoattractant for eosinophils and the function of E-dependent eosinophils during the estrous cycle remain unknown. Using mice homozygous for a null mutation in the gene for eotaxin, a specific chemokine for eosinophils, we have identified eotaxin as being necessary for eosinophil homing into the uterine stroma, and regulated by E2 during the estrous cycle. In the absence of eosinophils, the onset of estrous cycle displayed a 2-wk delay along with the first age of parturition, suggesting a possible local role of eosinophils present in the pubertal uterus in preparing the mature uterus for pregnancy. However, despite the absence of eosinophils, once the mice reach maturity, their estrous cycles as well as their reproductive functions were normal. Our results demonstrate that E2 acts through eotaxin to recruit eosinophils to the uterine stroma during the estrous cycle in mice, but that these cells do not have a function in regulating either the duration of the estrous cycle or fertility of mice.