Maternal communication with gametes and embryos

Mechanisms for gametes and embryos to interact with their maternal environment are crucial in achieving reproductive success, both in livestock and the human. Long-range (hormones) and short-range signalling molecules play important roles in mediating cell–cell maternal interactions/communications with gametes and embryos. Slight malfunctions or disturbances of the environment that host this interaction can retard embryonic development. This may lead to creation of a memory for the embryo leading to offspring prone to degenerative diseases in adulthood. Despite an overwhelming amount of research and the literature, not all signalling molecules involved and their relationship with each other are known. Progress in the application of high-throughput genomic and proteomic analytical tools, such as microarrays and quantitative proteomic technologies has had a positive impact on our understanding of various aspects of maternal communication with gametes and embryos. Recent advances point to the presence of a local mechanism in the female reproductive tract capable of recognising the arrival of gametes and embryos and modulating the tract's environment accordingly for the next stage. Further investigations are underway to characterise the details of this system. It is important to consider spatial or temporal components of maternal communication with gametes and embryos that may confer consequences for developmental potential. Finally, it seems that the application of a systems biology approach for creation of an interactome map of maternal communication with gametes and embryos is essential and provides an excellent opportunity for an inter-disciplinary collaboration with engineers and mathematical modellers.