title: In vivo expression of interferon tau mRNA by the embryonic trophoblast and uterine concentrations of interferon tau protein during early pregnancy in the cow.
abstract: In this study, we have measured uterine concentrations of interferon tau and intensity of embryonic interferon tau mRNA expression between day 14 and 18 in cows. While interferon tau concentrations rose dramatically (P < 0.001) from day 14 to 18, there was no significant increase in the intensity of expression of interferon tau mRNA by the trophoblast. When results were analyzed on the basis of embryo size, well elongated embryos (>10 cm) produced significantly (P < 0.001) more interferon tau than smaller embryos but showed similar levels of interferon tau mRNA expression. These results demonstrate that the increase in interferon tau concentrations responsible for the maternal recognition of pregnancy results from the increase in embryo size during elongation and not from any upregulation of mRNA expression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Physiology, University of Nottingham, School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fray
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wathes
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lamming
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C020947:interferon tau