Locations and molecular forms of gastrin-releasing peptide-like immunoreactive entities in ovine pregnancy.
Large quantities of gastrin-releasing peptide-like immunoreactivity (GRP-LI) are present in ovine pregnancy fluids (allantoic fluid > fetal plasma > esophageal fluid = amniotic fluid = urine > maternal plasma) and in term endometrium (60 +/- 29 pmol.g-1) and myometrium (4.5 +/- 1.2 pmol.g-1). The larger molecular size [greater than GRP (1-27)] of this GRP-LI entity is not due to a GRP binding protein nor to a C-terminal extension of GRP. In contrast, ovine fetal colon extracts appear to contain the usual GRP (1-27) and GRP (18-27) forms. Hence, the uterus, not the fetus, is the probable source of this novel GRP-like peptide. It apparently acts as a hormone in ovine pregnancy and may play an important role in fetal-placental development.
Xiao
Q
Q
Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Challis
J R
JR
Fraser
M
M
Wlodek
M E
ME
Thorburn
G D
GD
Cuttita
F
F
Hill
D J
DJ
St-Pierre
S
S
Spindel
E R
ER
McDonald
T J
TJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D010455:Peptides; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide