Localization of antigen defined by a monoclonal antibody to human 32-kDa insulin-like growth factor-binding protein in the sheep uterus at preimplantation stages of pregnancy.
Employing a murine monoclonal antibody to pregnancy-associated endometrial alpha I-globulin, a 32-kDa insulin-like, growth factor-binding protein (IGF-BP) and major product of the decidualized endometrium in the human, reactivity has been detected in the luminal epithelium of the sheep endometrium during the preimplantation period of pregnancy. Staining was associated with supranuclear regions of the cytoplasm. Reactivity was restricted to the pregnant uterus and was distributed throughout the luminal epithelium in both caruncular and intercaruncular regions. The reactivity was absent from endometrial glands in intercaruncular regions. Staining was first detected at day 10, peaked at day 14 of gestation and was absent by day 16. The implications of the induction of the production of this protein by the preimplantation blastocyst in the luminal epithelium is discussed with reference to the potential role of IGF-BP in IGF action in the embryo.
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Babraham, Cambridge, UK.
G T
GT
Waites
A
A
Whyte
S C
SC
Bell
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins