Ann. Méd. Vét., 2006, 150 (4), pp 212-226 Endocrinology of pregnancy in the cow: embryonic signals, placental hormones and proteinsAYAD A., SOUSA N.M., HORNICK J.L.,TOUATI K., IGUER-OUADA M., BECKERS J.F.Abstract :
The development, the establishment and the embryonic survival at early stages of gestation are depending on an intimate dialogue between the embryo and his mother. For the embryo part, it is
especially the trophoblast, or the
future placenta, which plays a key
role in initializing pregnancy. The
placenta emits many signals of various chemical natures (steroids, prostaglandins, peptides, proteins),
some of them, e.g. the interferon tau, determine the maintenance of the corpus luteum at the beginning of gestation. Until now, although having raised many speculations, the earliest of these signals were not identified in peripheral circulation.
Consequently, they cannot be used as a pregnancy diagnosis or to indicate embryonic mortality.
However, since the eighties, the
specific proteins “associated with
pregnancy”, produced by the trophoblastic cells are used as tool
for breeding management. Most of these molecules are present in peripheral
circulation. In this review, we will describe the major mechanisms associated with the maternal recognition of the gestation and their possible applications as pregnancy diagnosis tool in the cow. Get the PDF Contact person : jfbeckers@ulg.ac.be |