PROLONGATION OF LUTEAL LIFESPAN IN COWS BY INTRAUTERINE INFUSION OF RECOMBINANT BOVINE ALPHA-INTERFERON

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Abstract
The infusion of recombinant bovine interferon-.alpha.I1 into the uterus of cyclic cows from day 15.5 to 21 after estrus delayed luteolysis. Interferon-treated cows had a mean inter-estrous interval of 26.8 .+-. 1.39 d, a length that was longer (P < 0.02) than the inter-estrous interval for control cows (22.8 .+-. 0.80 d-). Measurements of circulating concentrations of progesterone confirmed that the longer inter-estrous intervals were due to an increase in corpus luteum lifespan following treatment with interferon. These results support the hypothesis that an alpha-interferon-like molecule could play a major role in establishment of pregnancy in cattle.