3.3.3. Colony-Stimulating Factor-1 in Implantation

A role for colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) in implantation has been proposed. Indeed, supplementation of CSF-1 in cultures of human trophoblast cells promotes their differentiation in syncytiotrophoblast cells and leads to the production of placental lactogen [257]. In addition, supplementation of CSF-1 to cultures of murine blastocyst induces trophoblast outgrowth [258]. However, using osteopetrotic mutant mice, which lack CSF-1, it has been shown that a maternal source of CSF-1 is not necessary for pregnancy, and possibly the fetus can provide a source of CSF-1 which compensate for the absence of maternally produced CSF-1 [259].
