Expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) mRNA in the ovine uterus throughout the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy

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Abstract
Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are thought to be important regulators of embryonic and fetal development. The half life, distribution and action of IGFs are modulated by a family of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP). This study investigated the pattern of IGFBP-1 expression in the ovine uterus during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy by in situ hybridisation. Uteri were collected from 46 non-pregnant ewes throughout the oestrous cycle and from 12 pregnant ewes between days (D)13 and 22 of gestation. Samples were also obtained on D16-17 from both horns of 5 ewes with unilateral pregnancies following uterine transection. IGFBP-1 expression was quantified as optical density (OD) units from autoradiographs using a Seescan image analysis system. IGFBP-1 mRNA was confined to the luminal epithelium, with a highly significant variation in concentration according to the stage of the cycle. In non-pregnant uteri, IGFBP-1 concentrations were high throughout the late luteal phase and oestrous period, peaking at an OD of 0.76+/-0.119, but concentrations fell below the detection limit (OD

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