ANTILUTEOLYTIC SIGNALS BETWEEN THE CONCEPTUS AND ENDOMETRIUM

Recent advances elucidating the endocrine, biochemical and molecular d ialogues between conceptus and endometrial tissues which lead to the m aintenance of the CL in cattle are reviewed. Bovine (b) interferon (IF N)-tau regulates endometrial gene(s) expression in a manner that atten uates prostaglandin (PG) F-2 alpha secretion from endometrial tissue. Part of the endometrial responses elicited by bIFN-tau appear to be th rough the Type I IFN alpha receptor. Potential intracellular mechanism s leading to a reduction in PGF(2 alpha) secretion are discussed, as a re current prospects for manipulating the dialogue to improve embryo s urvival. (C) 1996 by Elsevier Science Inc.