Dsg-2, a marker for desmosomes, is localized along the lateral plasma membrane in non-pregnant animals but redistributes to the apical region of the lateral plasma membrane during early pregnancy.
The ultrastructural and molecular changes to the uterine epithelium during early pregnancy in F. catus are similar to that in species with other levels of placental invasiveness, suggesting that key molecules such as desmoglein-2 and E-cadherin are crucial to successful pregnancy across all mammals.Anat Rec, 301:1497-1505, 2018.