Correlation between the release of ovine trophoblast protein-1 by the conceptus and the production of polypeptides by the maternal endometrium of ewes

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Abstract
Summary. We studied the biosynthesis of two proteins, p70 (Mr 70 000; pI 4·0) and p15 (Mr 15 000; pI 5·7), by endometrial tissues from ewes between Days 12 and 24 of pregnancy and between Days 12 and 16 of the oestrous cycle to determine whether production of the two was correlated with the period of biosynthesis of ovine trophoblast protein-1 (oTP-1) by the conceptus. We also compared the protein synthetic activities of endometrium from gravid and non-gravid horns of pregnant ewes at Days 14, 16 and 18 in which the conceptus had been confined to one uterine horn. Proteins p70 and p15 were produced maximally between Days 14 and 20 of pregnancy, but synthesis by endometrial cultures from cyclic ewes was low or absent. Furthermore, synthesis of Protein p70 in particular was much greater by the gravid than non-gravid horn of unilaterally pregnant ewes. We conclude that synthesis of Proteins p70 and p15 by the uterus of sheep coincides with the time of oTP-1 production by the conceptus. Keywords: ovine trophoblast protein-1; endometrium; sheep; pregnancy; interferon