Interferon, the oxytocin receptor and the maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants and non-ruminants: a comparative approach.
Ruminant and non-ruminant members of the Artiodactyla appear to use different mechanisms for the maternal recognition of pregnancy. In ruminants, the trophoblast of the developing blastocyst produces a characteristic Type I interferon of the interferon-tau family; this acts by blocking endometrial synthesis of the oxytocin receptor. A similar mechanism applies to domestic ruminants (sheep, cow, goat) and deer. In roe deer, which have embryonic diapause and are monoestrus, there is no requirement for a pre-implantation blastocyst signal to ensure maternal recognition of pregnancy. This paper compares the mechanisms leading to the maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants with that suggested to occur in a non-ruminant (the domestic pig).
Flint
A P
AP
Department of Physiology and Environmental Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, Leics, UK.
D000818:Animals; D003670:Deer / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007372:Interferons / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000502:physiology*; D012418:Ruminants / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism
D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D007372:Interferons