Locations and molecular forms of gastrin-releasing peptide-like immunoreactive entities in ovine pregnancy

Q. Xiao, J. R.G. Challis, M. Fraser, M. E. Wlodek, G. D. Thorburn, F. Cuttita, D. J. Hill, S. St.-Pierre, E. R. Spindel, T. J. McDonald

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Large quantities of gastrin-releasing peptide-like immunoreactivity (GRP- LI) are present in ovine pregnancy fluids (allantoic fluid > fetal plasma > esophageal fluid = amniotic fluid = urine > maternal plasma) and in term endometrium (60 ± 29 pmol · g-1) and myometrium (4.5 ± 1.2 pmol · g- 1). The larger molecular size [greater than GRP(1-27)] of this GRP-LI entity is not due to a GRP binding protein nor to a C terminal extension of GRP. In contrast, ovine fetal colon extracts appear to contain the usual GRP(1-27) and GRP(18-27) forms. Hence, the uterus, not the fetus, is the probable source of this novel GRP-like peptide. It apparently acts as a hormone in ovine pregnancy and may play an important role in fetal-placental development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)489-495
Number of pages7
JournalPeptides
Volume17
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996

Keywords

  • Bombesin
  • Gastrin-releasing peptide
  • Gel filtration
  • Ovine pregnancy
  • Reverse-phase HPLC
  • Uterus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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