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Uterine Protein Secretions in Postpartum Sows^{1 ,2,}

Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691

Abstract

Effect of postpartum time interval upon quantitative and qualitative uterine specific protein secretory patterns was determined during a postpartum estrous cycle in three groups of non-mated sows. In experiment 1, 13 sows were allotted to an early postpartum (EPP) group and 12 sows were allotted to a late postpartum (LPP) group. Litters were removed from sows within 48 hr postpartum. On day 15 of the first estrous cycle postpartum for EPP-sows and on day 15 of the second or third estrous cycle postpartum for LPP-sows, uterine protein secretions and a uterine section (for histological examination) were obtained by surgical methods. In experiment 2, eight sows allotted to an additional early postpartum. (EPP) group received 1,500 IU of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) on the day of farrowing. Uterine protein secretions were collected on day 15 of the first estrous cycle postpartum. Progesterone was measured in this group of sows by radioimmunoassay on plasma samples obtained on days 4, 8, 11, 15 and 17 to assess corpora lutea (CL) function.

Total uterine protein per CL, percentages of uterine serum-like protein, total uterine specific protein and uterine specific acidic protein were significantly affected by the postpartum time interval. Additionally affected were the quantities of both total uterine specific protein and uterine specific acidic protein. Uterine specific basic protein was not affected by time postpartum. Percentages and quantities of uterine specific protein in each of the EPP-sow groups (experiment 1 and 2) were lower (P<.01) than in the LPP-sow group. Furthermore, percentages and quantities of uterine specific acidic protein in each of the EPP-sow groups were lower (P<.01) than in the LPP-sow group. Polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis revealed that sows in all groups produced the basic purple protein and the complete profile of the low molecular weight acidic proteins on day 15.

Plasma progesterone concentrations for sows in experiment 2 indicated normal CL function. Histological data revealed a difference only in uterine luminal surface epithelial cell height occurring between the sow groups in experiment 1.

¹ Approved for publication as Journal Article No. 155-77 of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691.

² This research was supported in part by a grant from Mr. Ervin J. Nutter, Xenia, OH.

³ Present address: Animal Science Department, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, 27411.

⁴ Department of Animal Science.