Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins synthesized and released by conceptuses and endometria...

Conceptuses were obtained from pony mares on each day of pregnancy between Days 12 and 28, and on Days 39, 45, 65 and 100. Endometrium was obtained from mares at Days 12, 14, 16, 18, 39, 45, 65 and 100 of pregnancy, and from non-pregnant mares during anoestrus, during transition into the breeding season, at oestrus, or during dioestrus. Tissues were incubated in vitro for 24 h with L-[3H]leucine. Proteins synthesized and released into the culture medium were analysed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) and fluorography. Conceptuses obtained before Day 14 after ovulation released a characteristic pattern of labelled proteins. These included two groups of apparent isoelectric variants of relative molecular weights (Mr) 30,000-40,000 (pI values 4.5-5.5 and 6-7), one group of Mr approximately 22,000 (pI 6.5-7), and large protein(s) that did not enter the 10% polyacrylamide gel. After Day 14 the array of labelled proteins had changed and resembled that produced by isolated yolk sac at the later stages of pregnancy studied. Included amongst these were several acidic polypeptides with Mr 20,000 (pI 5-6). The endometrial samples released an array of non-dialysable polypeptides into the culture medium. Fluorograms could be assigned to one of three general groups, with endometrium from mares within each group producing similar patterns of labelled proteins. The first group consisted of anoestrous, transitional and ovariectomized mares, and mares at oestrus or Day 1 or Day 18 after ovulation. The second group was comprised of mares at Days 12-16 of dioestrus or Days 12-18 of pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)