Quantitative and Qualitative Variation in the Secretion of Protein by the Porcine Uterus during the Estrous Cycle12

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Abstract
The daily variation in protein content of porcine uterine flushings were studied on Days 2–18 and Day 20 of the estrous cycle. Average total protein per sample was relatively constant during the first 9 days of the estrous cycle, but began to increase on Day 10. Maximum total protein values were found on Day 15 after which the values decreased sharply to levels on Days 17, 18, and 20 which were similar to those observed before Day 10 of the estrous cycle. Sephadex G-200 gel filtration revealed three protein fractions (Fractions I–III) which were present throughout the estrous cycle and had estimated molecular weights of greater than 200,000, 200,000, and 90,000, respectively. Two additional protein fractions (Fractions IV and V) were not present either before Day 9 or after Day 16 of the estrous cycle. Fraction IV first appeared on Day 12 and had an estimated mol wt of 45,000. Fraction IV contained a lavender protein which gave the uterine flushings obtained between Days 12 and 16 of the estrous cycle a characteristic lavender color. Fraction V appeared as early as Day 9 and had an estimated mol wt of 20,000. This study indicated that the protein milieu of uterine secretions changes quantitatively and qualitatively during the estrous cycle.

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