Embryo-uterine interactions during early stages of pregnancy in domestic mammals

The first part of this paper presents data concerning our knowledge of uterine proteins during early pregnancy in domestic mammals; the second part gives results of in vitro biochemical studies on embryo-uterine interactions in the ewe. We have developed an in vitro technique of the co-culture of ovine uterine epithelial cells with the blastocyst or its secretory proteins. The effects of a specific trophoblastic protein (oTPB), involved in the maintenance of the corpus luteum, have been particularly studied by this system. The modifications of endometrial protein synthesis have been measured by incorporation of radiolabelled amino acids and analysed by electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE or bidimensional). The results show that the presence of the blastocyst, or of its total secretory proteins or oTPB alone, decreased overall protein synthesis by the endometrial cells. The nature of the secreted proteins was apparently not affected by the blastocyst, but the addition of oTPB alone increased the production of 3 polypeptides (MW = 150.10(3); 74.10(3); 50.10(3) and pI = 7-8.2; 5.4-5.2; 6.4, respectively) and decreased the synthesis of 2 others (MW = 57.10(3); 35.10(3) and pI = 7-6.7; 5.3, respectively). We also studied the effects of co-culture with uterine cells on blastocyst DNA and protein synthesis. In no cases we obtained stimulation of blastocyst development during the co-culture period, and DNA or protein synthesis decreased in the presence of uterine cells. In conclusion, the presence of specific uterine proteins has been established in some domestic mammals (pig, rabbit) but not in all of them. Although local modifications of uterine protein synthesis are induced by the embryo or its secretory products, the nature and the role of the proteins which are affected need to be determined by further studies.