This poster presentation summarizes research on the role of matrix metallopeptidase 12 (MMP12) in the invasive trophoblast lineage during placentation. The researchers found that MMP12 is dramatically upregulated in invasive trophoblast cells lining the uterine spiral arteries during hypoxic conditions. They also observed MMP12 upregulation during trophoblast differentiation induced by hypoxia in vitro. To further study MMP12's role, they used TALEN genome editing to generate a mutant rat model lacking MMP12. This Mmp12 mutant rat model will enable them to evaluate the involvement of MMP12 in uterine spiral artery remodeling during placentation.