Chorionic expression of heterogeneous products of the PAG (Pregnancy-Associated Glycoprotein) gene family secreted in vitro throughout embryonic and foetal development in the pig

Reprod Nutr Dev. 2003 Nov-Dec;43(6):497-516. doi: 10.1051/rnd:2004004.

Abstract

Porcine PAG (pPAG) are placental products of a multigene family that is strongly expressed in the chorionic epithelium (trophoblast and trophectoderm). The objective of this study was to define a pattern of the pPAG proteins, secreted in vitro by chorionic explants harvested on 16-77 days of pregnancy. Trophoblastic and trophectodermal explants were collected from pregnant (PR) gilts (n = 27) and used for protein in vitro production (8-261 h). Endometrial explants of luteal-phase gilts (E10, n = 4) and pseudopregnant gilts (PsE, n = 2) were used as negative controls for protein immunoblotting. Proteins (PR, E10, PsE) were isolated mainly from incubation media, fractionated, dialysed and separated by SDS-PAGE. Heterogeneous Western blotting with various polyclonal anti-PAG sera raised against bovine or ovine antigens (anti-bPAG, or anti-oPAG) initially identified the pPAG proteins. Such blotting of fractionated chorionic proteins allowed for the isolation of porcine antigens that were employed as immunogens to raise several homologous antisera (anti-pPAG). Crude antisera were adsorbed on endometrial extracts or proteins of non-PR pigs, to remove non-relevant antibodies. The patterns of pPAG proteins secreted in vitro varied throughout pregnancy (35-72 kDa). During implantation, approximately 43 kDa (Day 16) or approximately 68.1 kDa (Days 17-25) pPAG proteins were detected. During placentation and as pregnancy advanced (Days 31-77), approximately 72.3 kDa pPAG proteins were observed. The secretions of parallel multiple smaller proteins (35.4-47.2 kDa), presumably, as forms of processed pPAG precursors, increased with the progress of gestation. In conclusion, the pPAG protein family plays a very important role during implantation, placenta formation and embryonic/foetal development in the pig.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / genetics*
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / immunology
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western / veterinary
  • Chorion / enzymology
  • Chorion / metabolism*
  • Cross Reactions
  • Culture Techniques
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / veterinary
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics*
  • Immune Sera / immunology
  • Immune Sera / isolation & purification
  • Multigene Family / genetics
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Proteins / genetics*
  • Pregnancy Proteins / immunology
  • Pregnancy Proteins / metabolism
  • Pregnancy, Animal / physiology*
  • Swine / embryology*
  • Trophoblasts / metabolism

Substances

  • Immune Sera
  • Pregnancy Proteins
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • pregnancy-associated glycoprotein 1