Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in bovine placental cells in vivo and in vitro

This thesis is submitted as a cumulative thesis with the main issue of elucidating potential functions and the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs) in the bovine placenta. The thesis consists of two parts; each part being covered in one original paper published in peer reviewed journals. The first part analyses the involvement of MMPs/TIMPs in restricted trophoblast invasion/migration in respect to signal transduction, cell motility and proliferation in bovine trophoblast cells in vitro. The second part contains results of in vivo studies concerning the localization and expression of the MMP/TIMP system in different experimental groups and its possible involvement in the aetiology of retained fetal membranes (RFM).