Figure 7.

Adoptive transfer of DCN-induced macrophages results in embryo absorption. (A) C57BL/6 dams were randomly divided into five groups (phosphate-buffered saline [PBS], M0-BMDM, Ctr-BMDM, DCN^OE-BMDM, and LPS-BMDM groups) and received the indicated BMDMs (2 ×10⁶ in 200 µL PBS) at GD6.5 and GD7.5. Dams in the PBS group were given 200 µL PBS at the indicated time. The embryo abortion rate, macrophage phenotype in the spleen and uterus, and placental development were evaluated on GD 10.5. (B-D) Embryo absorption rate in different groups was determined on GD10.5. Positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) imaging was used to identify the successful pregnancy in each group (C). Embryo absorption can be identified by hemorrhagic spots or small embryo size (D, black arrows, left). (E) Flow cytometry analysis of the proportion of total macrophages and macrophage subsets in the spleen and uterus.