CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYPEPTIDES SYNTHESIZED AND SECRETED BY OVIDUCTAL EPITHELIAL-CELL EXPLANTS OBTAINED FROM YOUNG, FERTILE AND AGED, SUBFERTILE MARES
Sp. Brinsko et al., CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYPEPTIDES SYNTHESIZED AND SECRETED BY OVIDUCTAL EPITHELIAL-CELL EXPLANTS OBTAINED FROM YOUNG, FERTILE AND AGED, SUBFERTILE MARES, American journal of veterinary research, 57(9), 1996, pp. 1346-1353
Objective-To compare the electrophoretic patterns of proteins synthesi
zed and secreted by oviductal epithelial cell (OEC) explants obtained
from young, fertile and aged, subfertile mares. Animals-Young, fertile
(n = 5; 2 to 7 years old) and aged, subfertile (n = 5; 17 to 24 years
old) mares. Procedure-2-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacryla
mide gel electrophoresis and computerized densitometry. Results-Variat
ion in the synthesis and secretion of polypeptides from young, fertile
mare OEC (YOEC) and aged, subfertile mare OEC (AOEC) was evidenced by
differences in the intensity of radiolabeled polypeptides on fluorogr
ams. Fluorograms for 9 acidic (isoelectric point, 5.09 to 6.50) protei
ns of low to medium molecular mass (18.2 to 85.0 kd) from YOEC had gre
ater intensity than did those from AOEC. Fluorograms for 7 proteins (1
0.5 to 45.0 kd; isoelectric point, 5.80 to 6.92) from AOEC had greater
intensity. Conclusion-The differences detected in the fluorographic i
ntensities of secreted proteins from YOEC and AOEC may be related to t
he disparity in embryo development observed between young, fertile and
aged, subfertile mares. Clinical Relevance-Failure to maintain pregna
ncy in aged, subfertile mares may be a result of a suboptimal oviducta
l environment exerting its effects on the conceptus during early cleav
age.