Double radial immunodiffusion as a tool to identify pregnancy-associated glycoproteins in ruminant and nonruminant placentae.
Pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) are antigens synthesized in the superficial layers of the ruminant trophoblast. Initially, they were identified either as proteins released into the maternal bloodstream (where they have applications in pregnancy diagnosis) (PAG1) or as molecules binding to the LH receptor (PAG2). In this study, double radial immunodiffusion was used to test the ability of antisera raised against different PAG molecules (bovine, ovine and caprine) to react with placental extracts from nonruminants (rabbit, cat, mouse, pig, and wild pig) and ruminants (cow, ewe, and goat). Placental extracts from all nonruminants tested except rabbit reacted with anti bovine PAG2 (anti-boPAG2). Extracts of ruminant placentas reacted with different antisera, confirming the expression of various PAG molecules. According to the time at which the placentas were collected (early or middle pregnancy), the reaction differed as regards the thickness, position, and number of precipitation lines, suggesting that PAG expression varies as pregnancy progresses. Bos indicus and Bos taurus placental extracts exhibited different reactions with anti-boPAG2: a single precipitation line in the former case and two lines in the latter. This suggests differential expression of boPAG2 related glycoproteins in these two subspecies.
El Amiri
Bouchra
B
Department of Physiology of Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Bd de Colonster No 20 B41, B4000, Sart Tilman, Belgium.
Melo de Sousa
Noelita
N
Mecif
Khira
K
Desbuleux
Henri
H
Banga-Mboko
Henri
H
Beckers
Jean-François
JF
D000818:Animals; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D005779:Immunodiffusion / Q000662:veterinary; D051379:Mice; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012418:Ruminants / Q000276:immunology*; D012756:Sheep; D013552:Swine
D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C094766:pregnancy-associated glycoprotein 1; C095584:pregnancy-associated glycoprotein 2