title: Major plasma proteins in pig serum during postnatal development.
abstract: The time-course of changes in the levels of albumin, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), alpha(1)-protease inhibitor (alpha(1)-antitrypsin), alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, fetuin, haptoglobin, transferrin, IgG and the major acute-phase protein (Pig-MAP) in the blood sera of pigs during the first days and weeks of life was investigated by quantitative radial immunodiffusion. The serum of newborn pigs before suckling was characterised by a very low concentration of total proteins (approximately 25 mg mL(-1)), low levels of albumin and transferrin and the lack of immunoglobulins. In contrast, alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein and fetuin are present at high levels (approximately 12 and 5 mg mL(-1) respectively). The results of the present study show that the piglets undergo a very rapid metabolic maturation with regard to serum proteins, evolving from a characteristic 'fetal' pattern to an 'adult' one. We have paid special attention to the evolution of haptoglobin and Pig-MAP, which are two important acute-phase proteins in pigs. The evolution of serum levels of these proteins suggests that piglets must overcome a moderate acute-phase situation during the first week of life.
authors.affiliation: Junta de Castilla y León, Centro de Salud, Lerma, Burgos, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tesouro
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gonz Am
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lampreave
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood* / Q000254:growth & development*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D001798:Blood Proteins; D006242:Haptoglobins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009961:Orosomucoid; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014168:Transferrin; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins