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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #122221
Title: REGULATION OF INTERFERON-TAU GENE EXPRESSION AND THE MATERNAL RECOGNITION OF PREGNANCY

Author
item YAMAGUCHI, HIROHITO - UNIV TOKYO, JAPAN
item NAGAOKA, KENTARO - UNIV TOKYO, JAPAN
item MATSUDA, FUKO - UNIV TOKYO, JAPAN
item XU, NINGCHUN - UNIV TOKYO, JAPAN
item Christenson, Ronald
item IMAKAWA, KAZUHIKO - UNIV TOKYO, JAPAN
item SAKAI, SENKITI - UNIV TOKYO, JAPAN

Submitted to: Journal of Reproduction and Development
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/29/2001
Publication Date: 4/20/2001
Citation: Yamaguchi, H., Nagaoka, K., Matsuda, F., Xu, N., Christenson, R.K., Imakawa, K., Sakai, S. 2001. Regulation of interferon-tau gene expression and the maternal recognition of pregnancy. Journal of Reproduction and Development. 47(2):69-82.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In order for pregnancy to be established, the maternal system must recognize the presence of a conceptus(es) within the uterus. This physiological phenomenon, which subsequently causes the extension of the corpus luteum (CL) life-span, is known as maternal recognition of pregnancy. In ruminant ungulates, interferon-tau (IFNtau), produced by the econceptus, binds to the receptor located in the maternal endometrium in a paracrine manner. Interferon-tau binding then affects levels of endometrial oxytocin receptor and estrogen receptor, which reduces pulsatile secretion of the luteolysin prostaglandin F2alpha, resulting in the extension of CL function. Production of IFNtau seems to parallel the degree of trophoblast elongation and as the conceptus begins its attachment to the endometrium, IFNtau levels decline rapidly. Involvement of IFNtau in the process of implantation has long been suspected, but a role for IFNtau other than CL extension or transcriptional regulation of IFNtau genes has not been elucidated. In fact, several transcription factors that regulate the expression of ovine IFNtau have been found but none could explain its unique regulation. Recent findings related to maternal recognition of pregnancy are presented herein, and a new insight into the potential regulation of ovine IFNtau is discussed.