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Insulin-like growth factor-I expression during early conceptus development in the pig
R Letcher1, R C Simmen, F W Bazer
1Department of Animal Science, Ohio State University-OARDC, Wooster 44691.
Biology of Reproduction
|December 1, 1989
Summary
Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) plays a role in early porcine pregnancy. IGF-I levels in uterine fluid and conceptus tissues peak around Day 12, coinciding with developmental changes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Endocrinology
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Porcine conceptus development involves morphological and biochemical changes in the uterine endometrium.
- Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a key signaling molecule in development and reproduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of IGF-I in early porcine pregnancy.
- To characterize the presence and levels of IGF-I peptide and mRNA in porcine endometrium, conceptus, and uterine luminal fluid (ULF) during gestation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of IGF-I peptide and mRNA in endometrial and conceptus tissues at various gestational days (8-30).
- Measurement of immunoreactive IGF-I concentration in uterine luminal fluid (ULF).
- Dot-blot hybridization to assess IGF-I mRNA expression levels.
Main Results:
- ULF IGF-I concentration peaked on Day 12 of gestation.
- Endometrial IGF-I mRNA levels were highest on Day 12, significantly decreasing by Day 30.
- Conceptus tissues showed lower IGF-I content than endometrium, with peak IGF-I on Day 12.
Conclusions:
- IGF-I expression and localization vary temporally during early porcine pregnancy.
- These findings suggest a significant role for IGF-I in the developmental processes of the porcine conceptus and uterine endometrium.