Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis map of bovine ovarian fluid proteins

Molecular mechanisms underlying the cystic degeneration of ovarian follicle s in the dairy cow have not been clarified yet. A useful approach for compl ementing endocrinological and clinical studies could be represented by the systematic analysis of the protein patterns in follicular and cystic fluid. With this aim, a two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis map of proteins contained in fluid from bovine ovarian follicles at different sta ges of development and from bovine ovarian cyst has been obtained. About 20 0 spots were detected after silver staining. Polypeptides from nine spots o r series of spots have been identified by N-terminal sequencing, and furthe r analysis of the map has been performed by gel comparison. Alpha-1-antitry psin, albumin, serotransferrin and apolipoprotein A-I and A-IV were located on the map. Comparison between protein patterns revealed the differential expression of some spots among follicles of smaller diameter, follicles of larger diameter, and cysts. This could represent the first step toward the identification of proteins differentially expressed and associated with ova rian cyst development.