Biomedical subjects

H Francis

Publications and source records attributed to H Francis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1991

Seroconversion rate, mortality, and clinical manifestations associated with the receipt of a human immunodeficiency virus-infected blood transfusion in Kinshasa, Zaire.

To evaluate the consequences of receiving human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive blood, 90 HIV-1-seronegative recipients of HIV-1-seropositive blood (case patients) and 90 HIV-1-seronegative recipients of HIV-1-seronegative blood, matched for age, sex, number of transfusions, diagnosis, and severity of illness (controls), were followed for 12 months after transfusion at Mama Yemo Hospital in Kinshasa, Zaire. Of case patients and controls, 72% were children transfused for anemia caused by malaria. Of the 46 case patients case patients alive 6 months after transfusion and for whom HIV-1 serologic results were obtained, 44 (96%) had seroconverted. Significantly more case patients (47%) than controls (16%) died within 1 year after transfusion (P less than .001). In the first 3 months after transfusion, fatigue, diarrhea, fever, cough, pruritus, pallor, oral candidiasis, polyadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and rhinorrhea were observed more often among seroconverters than controls (P less than .04). Six percent of case patients and no controls had developed clinical AIDS after 12 months of follow-up. These findings underscore the urgent need for appropriate HIV screening facilities in transfusion centers worldwide.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Prevalence of HIV-1 p24 antigenemia in African and North American populations and correlation with clinical status.

Sera from 622 individuals and culture supernatants from three HIV-1 viral isolates were assayed for HIV-1 p24 antigen to investigate the frequency of p24 antigenemia in African and North American populations using three commercial HIV-1 p24 antigen assays (Coulter, Du Pont, and Abbott). The prevalence of p24 antigenemia in 89 hospitalized Zairian AIDS patients was significantly lower than in 47 clinically comparable AIDS patients in the USA (17 versus 48%, P less than 0.0001). Prevalence of p24 antigenemia in sera from 200 asymptomatic HIV-1-infected individuals was also lower in individuals from Zaire compared with 83 individuals in the USA (3.5 versus 7%). In African individuals, antigenemia prevalence increased with advanced clinical status: 8% in ambulatory AIDS patients, 17% in hospitalized AIDS patients and 18% in postmortem AIDS patients. Acid hydrolysis treatment of sera from 63 Zairian AIDS patients initially negative for p24 antigen showed an 11% positivity rate confirmed by neutralization, suggesting that immune complexing of p24 antigen may play a role in the observed lower p24 antigenemia rates reported for African individuals.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1991

Effect of restricted feeding on the relationship between hypophysial portal concentrations of growth hormone (GH)-releasing factor and somatostatin, and jugular concentrations of GH in ovariectomized ewes.

These studies characterized the secretion of GH-releasing factor (GRF) and somatostatin (SRIF) into the hypophysial portal circulation in ewes after long term restricted feeding. In addition, we examined the temporal relationship between the concentrations of these two hypothalamic peptides in portal blood and the concentration of GH in jugular blood. Six sheep were fed 1000 g hay/day (normal feeding) and 6 sheep were fed 400-600 g hay/day (restricted feeding). This resulted in a wt loss of 35% in restricted animals compared with 6% in control animals after 20 weeks. Fluctuations in portal levels of GRF indicated a pulsatile pattern of secretion with approximately 60% of pulses coincident with, or immediately preceding, a GH pulse. Similarly, 65% of GH pulses were associated with GRF pulses. Restricted feeding increased (P less than 0.01) mean ( +/- SEM) plasma GH levels (9.8 +/- 1.4 vs. 2.9 +/- 0.6 ng/ml) and mean GH pulse amplitude (7.9 +/- 1.8 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.3 ng/ml) but did not affect mean GH pulse frequency (6.0 +/- 1.1 vs. 5.7 +/- 1.1 pulses/8 h). The level of feeding had no effect on mean portal concentration of GRF (restricted: 5.5 +/- 0.8, normal: 6.6 +/- 1.4 pg/ml), GRF pulse amplitude (14.7 +/- 2.3 vs. 13.5 +/- 0.7 pg/ml), or GRF pulse frequency (5.3 +/- 1.1 vs. 6.7 +/- 0.9 pulses/8 h). Portal concentrations of SRIF in sheep on a restricted diet were half (P less than 0.01) those of sheep fed a normal diet (10.2 +/- 2.3 vs. 19.6 +/- 1.6 pg/ml). Pulses of SRIF were not significantly associated with changes in GH or GRF concentrations. These data indicate a functional role for hypothalamic GRF in initiating GH pulses. Furthermore, the increase in GH secretion in underfed sheep was most probably due to a decrease in the release of SRIF into hypophysial portal blood. Restricted feeding had no affect on GRF secretion, but because of the reduced exposure of the pituitary gland to SRIF, it is possible that responsiveness to GRF is enhanced.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Induction of the synthesis of the pregnancy-specific protein p70 in the endometrium by intramuscular injection of recombinant bovine interferon-alpha I1 in nonpregnant ewes.

We examined the effect of recombinant bovine interferon-alpha I1 (rboIFN-alpha I1) or recombinant bovine trophoblast protein-1 (rbTP-1) on protein synthesis by endometrial explants from Day-13 cyclic ewes and studied the ability of rboIFN-alpha I1 injected i.m. to influence subsequent protein secretion by endometrial tissue explants. In Expt 1, ewes were injected with either 2 mg rboIFN-alpha I1 or vehicle alone at 12 h intervals beginning on Day 11 of the oestrous cycle and ending on the morning of Day 13; 8 h after the last injection, ewes were hysterectomized and endometrial explant cultures were prepared. Explants were cultured for 24 h in leucine-deficient medium supplemented with 250 microCi L-[3H]leucine per culture. For Expt 2, additional explants were prepared from Expt 1 controls. Explants were cultured in the presence of 0, 20 or 200 ng/ml of either rboIFN-alpha I1 or rbTP-1 for 24 h in leucine-deficient medium supplemented with 250 microCi L-[3H]leucine per culture. Secreted proteins were analysed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and fluorography. There was a marked enhancement of a 70 kDa acidic protein, p70, in explants cultured in the presence of rboIFN-alpha I1 or rbTP-1. This polypeptide is a product of the gravid uterine horn from Day 14 to Day 20 of pregnancy and is a useful marker of the action of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) on endometrium. Enhanced production of p70 also occurred in ewes injected i.m. with rboIFN-alpha I1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Vascular proximity: is it a valid indication for arteriography in asymptomatic patients?

The role of arteriography in asymptomatic patients with penetrating extremity wounds in proximity to major vessels is controversial. This prospective study was designed to evaluate a precise definition of proximity, determine the incidence of positive arteriograms, and correlate angiographic interpretation with operative findings. Proximity was defined as any wound located within 1 cm of a major vessel. Excluded were patients with a pulse deficit, bruit, thrill, history of arterial hemorrhage, expanding hematoma, nerve deficit, fracture, or significant soft-tissue injury. One hundred sixty arteriograms were performed in 146 patients. One hundred forty-three (89.4%) were true-negatives. Seventeen (10.6%) were suggestive of injury. These included seven (4.4%) true-positive arteriograms, six (3.8%) false-positive studies, and four (2.5%) positive arteriograms in patients who were not operated upon. The angiographic report correlated with operative findings in five (38.5%) of 13 patients. These data confirm the low incidence (4.4%) of vascular injury in asymptomatic patients. The use of extremity angiography when proximity is the sole indication in an asymptomatic patient with a normal vascular examination must be questioned.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Human immunodeficiency virus infection among Peace Corps volunteers in Zaire. No evidence for unusual modes of transmission.

A prospective study of US Peace Corps volunteers (PCVs) serving in Zaire, central Africa, was undertaken to determine the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus infection in an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-aware expatriate population living in an area of high endemicity for both diseases. Of the 338 PCVs who served in Zaire between October 1985 and May 1988, 282 (83%) were enrolled, representing 7776 volunteer-months of service. Analyses of serum samples for HIV and hepatitis B virus were performed on enrollment and at completion of service. All PCVs received extensive education and counseling regarding HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome throughout their stay in Zaire. There were no documented seroconversions to HIV among 282 PCVs who lived in Zaire for periods ranging from 1 to 81 months, with a mean length of stay of 27.4 months. Of the 14 (6.2%) of 226 PCVs tested who had at least one positive serologic marker for infection with hepatitis B virus, none was documented to have seroconverted during service. During the study period, the rate of all sexually transmitted diseases among PCVs in Africa decreased from 131 to 68 per 1000 study population per year, and there were 52 cases of confirmed malaria among volunteers in Zaire. These data suggest that the risk of acquiring infection with HIV or hepatitis B virus in PCVs in Zaire is very low, and there is no evidence for unusual modes of transmission.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Eosinophil degranulation. An immunologic determinant in the pathogenesis of the Mazzotti reaction in human onchocerciasis.

Onchocerciasis patients treated with diethylcarbamazine often undergo a severe inflammatory response, the Mazzotti reaction. To assess the eosinophil's role in the pathogenesis of the Mazzotti reaction, we obtained serial blood, plasma, and skin biopsy specimens from 21 heavily infected patients and 3 endemic controls, both before and during therapy with diethylcarbamazine. Samples were analyzed for blood eosinophils, plasma levels of eosinophil granule major basic protein (MBP) and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, eosinophil infiltration and eosinophil and mast cell degranulation in the skin. After the first dose of diethylcarbamazine, blood eosinophils fell from a pre-treatment level of 888 +/- 111 to 203 +/- 42 cells/mm3 at 8 h. This decrease was followed by a marked eosinophilia developing over the remaining 7 days of treatment and 14 days of follow-up. Plasma eosinophil-derived neurotoxin levels increased from 56 +/- 4 ng/ml pretreatment to a peak of 82 +/- 9 ng/ml at 8 h and returned to pretreatment levels by 48 h. Beginning at 12 h, plasma MBP levels increased from 730 +/- 74 ng/ml pretreatment to a peak of 1140 +/- 74 ng/ml after 5 days. Pretreatment skin biopsies stained for MBP by immunofluorescence showed a bright fibrillar pattern in the dermis consistent with chronic eosinophil degranulation; the MBP was localized on elastic tissue fibers. After treatment, skin biopsy specimens showed both the pretreatment fibrillar MBP staining pattern as well as focal eosinophil degranulation. Deposition of MBP around microfilariae in the papillary dermis was visible as early as 1.5 h. The lowest blood eosinophil levels and peak plasma eosinophil-derived neurotoxin levels coincided with the infiltration and degranulation of eosinophils in the skin. Mast cell degranulation in the skin was maximal by the first posttreatment biopsy (1.5 h) coincident with the beginning of eosinophil degranulation. Although the pathogenesis of the Mazzotti reaction is clearly complex, our results indicate that eosinophil degranulation is characteristic of the response and that it occurs with a time course suggestive of a role for the eosinophil in determining the clinical and pathologic manifestations of the reaction.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Incidence of malaria and efficacy of oral quinine in patients recently infected with human immunodeficiency virus in Kinshasa, Zaire.

There is concern that the impaired cell mediated immunity caused by the human immunodeficiency virus may increase the risk of severity of Plasmodium falciparum infection and could lead eventually to a decreased response to standard antimalarial treatment. In 1986, at Mama Yemo Hospital, Kinshasa, Zaire, the incidence of malaria was determined in a cohort of 59 patients who had recently acquired HIV-I infection through blood transfusion and in a cohort of 83 HIV-I seronegative controls who were recipients of HIV-I seronegative blood. All cohort patients were asked to visit the study physician whenever they developed fever. On each of these occasions thick film was examined for the presence of malarial parasites. HIV-I seropositive patients presented more often with episodes of fever per person month observation than HIV-I seronegative patients (P = 0.003). The total number of positive thick films per person months observation was significantly higher among HIV-I seropositive patients than among the HIV-I seronegative ones, but percentages of positive thick films per episode of fever were the same in both groups (46%). During a 5 month period, cohort patients presenting with a moderate attack of malaria were treated with oral quinine 20 mg/kg daily in two doses for 5 days. Twenty-three (92%) of 25 HIV-I seropositive patients and 28 (82%) of 34 HIV-I seronegative patients had a negative film 7 days after starting treatment. This study suggests that there seems to be no direct interaction of major clinical importance between HIV infection and malaria.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1990

The Syme amputation: success in elderly diabetic patients with palpable ankle pulses.

The Syme amputation is an old operation that has been used during this century primarily as a means of treating traumatic injuries to the forefoot in military patients. In 1984 we made a deliberate attempt to perform the operation in a highly selective group of dysvascular patients with forefoot necrosis who happened to have a palpable posterior tibial pulse. We reviewed the charts of 26 patients who underwent a one-stage (3 patients) or two-stage (23 patients) Syme amputation. The mean age was 60 years, (range 32 to 74 years). There were 17 insulin-dependent diabetic patients, and 3 diet-controlled diabetic patients. Twenty-two patients (85%) had a palpable posterior tibial pulse before surgery. Fourteen patients (54%) underwent a preliminary Ray (4) or transmetatarsal (10) amputation to rid the forefoot of an active infection. Overall, 20 patients (77%) had successful Syme amputations. Nineteen of 22 patients (85%) with a palpable posterior tibial pulse had a successful amputation in contrast to one out of four patients (25%) who did not have a palpable pulse before surgery (p = 0.04). The mean follow-up of all patients was 23 months. The durability of the operation was demonstrated in finding that only one patient in 20 initially successful Syme amputations required revision to the below-knee level. The two-stage Syme amputation can be a very gratifying operation with success rates approaching 85%, even if offered to elderly diabetic patients. The single most important feature for success is to limit the operation to those patients with a palpable posterior tibial pulse before operation.

Amputation, Surgical↗

PubMed1990

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) among female prostitutes in Kinshasa, Zaire.

Three hundred seventy-seven prostitutes from Kinshasa, Zaire, were enrolled in a study to determine associated risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection. Twelve samples (3.2%) were seropositive for HTLV-I; results for HIV-1 (101 [26.8%]) are reported elsewhere. HTLV-I prevalence increased with age, and seven of the seropositive women originated from the Equateur region, a remote area in northwestern Zaire. The prevalence among women from Equateur (7.2%) was higher than that of women from all other regions (1.8%, P = .02). Presence of HTLV-I antibodies was not associated with frequency or type of sex practice. In a subsequent study, 350 serum samples were obtained from a variety of subjects in the Equateur region in 1986. Nineteen (5.4%) showed antibodies to HTLV-I. These data and a recent report of a cluster of patients with tropical spastic paraparesis from this region suggest that HTLV-I is endemic in the Equateur region of Zaire.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Heterosexual transmission of HIV-1 among employees and their spouses at two large businesses in Zaire.

To better understand the reasons why up to 80% of all HIV-1 infections in Zaire, but less than 5% in North America and Europe, are acquired through heterosexual transmission, and to assess the impact of HIV-1 infection on a large urban African workforce, we enrolled 7068 male employees, 416 female employees and 4548 female spouses of employees at two large Kinshasa businesses (a textile factory and a commercial bank) in a prospective study of HIV-1 infection. The HIV-1 seroprevalence rate was higher in male employees (5.8%) and their spouses (5.7%) at the bank than among male employees (2.8%) and their spouses (3.3%) at the textile factory. At both businesses HIV-1 seroprevalence was higher among employees in managerial positions (5.0%) than among workers in lower-level positions (3.0%; P less than 0.0001). In a multivariate analysis of male employees, receipt of a transfusion, a history of genital ulcer disease, working at the bank, urethritis, or being divorced or separated were independently associated with HIV-1 infection. During 1987 and 1988, AIDS was the most common cause of death among recently employed workers, accounting for 20 and 24% of all deaths at the textile factory and the commercial bank, respectively. The HIV-1 seroprevalence rate was higher among female workers (7.7%) than among the spouses of male workers (3.9%; P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis of the wives of workers, having an HIV-1-seropositive spouse, receipt of a blood transfusion, or a history of genital ulcer disease were independently associated with HIV-1 infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1990

HIV-1 infection in HIV-1 enzyme-linked immunoassay seronegative patients in Kinshasa, Zaire.

Serum samples of 62 African patients who had clinical manifestations of HIV-1 infection but were seronegative for HIV-1 by ELISA (Organon) were subsequently further tested by another HIV-1 ELISA test (Wellcozyme), HIV-1 IgG Western blot, HIV-1 antigen detection and HIV-2 ELISA. Patients' lymphocytes were cultured for HIV-1 and 2. Because of limited quantities of serum available all tests were not performed on all samples. Seven (26%) of 27 sera of patients meeting the WHO clinical case definition of AIDS were Western-blot-positive. In contrast, of 35 patients' sera with possible HIV related disease, only one (3%) was Western blot positive (P = 0.02) and none of 75 sera from HIV-1 ELISA (Organon) seronegative blood donors (P less than 0.01) were Western blot positive. Of 30 HIV-1 ELISA (Organon) seronegative patients tested with the HIV-1 ELISA Wellcozyme assay only one was seropositive (this patient's serum was also Western blot positive). Of 17 HIV-1 ELISA (Organon) seronegative patients tested, HIV-1 antigen was found in 1 case (6%) (this patient's serum was Western blot negative). None of the 34 patients tested by HIV-2 serology was HIV-2 seropositive. HIV-1 was isolated by culture in 3 (21%) of 14 HIV-1 ELISA seronegative patients (sera of the 3 patients were Western blot negative). In total, 12 (19%) of 62 HIV-1 ELISA (Organon) seronegative patients were found to be positive for HIV, either by Western blot HIV antigen testing or viral culture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

PubMed1990

The production, purification, and bioactivity of recombinant bovine trophoblast protein-1 (bovine trophoblast interferon).

Bovine trophoblast protein-1 (bTP-1) is a 172-amino acid interferon- alpha that has a role in maternal recognition of pregnancy in cattle. Here we describe production of bTP-1 by recombinant procedures in Escherichia coli. A bTP-1 gene was constructed which lacked the codons representing the signal sequence and provided a Met initiation codon ahead of the TGT codon encoding Cys1 of the mature protein. This construct was placed under the control of the Trp promoter within the expression vector pTrp2. Expression occurred optimally in E. coli D112 in the absence of tryptophan and in the presence of 0.5% acid-hydrolyzed casein (casamino acids) when 0.5 mM indole acetic acid was included in the medium. The bTP-1 was deposited in inclusion bodies and accounted for as much as 27% of the total cellular protein. The inclusion bodies were isolated by differential centrifugation and washed. The bTP-1 was solubilized by use of guanidinium-HCI and 2-mercaptoethanol and allowed to renature in air. Final purification was achieved by anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The yield of purified product, which had an antiviral activity greater than 10(8) international reference units/mg, was approximately 20 mg/liter. The recombinant bTP-1 was relatively stable to freeze-thawing and frozen storage, and could induce the production of an acidic protein of 70,000 mol wt in cultured explants of endometrium prepared from ewes on day 13 of the estrous cycle. The latter protein is a characteristic product of interferon-alpha action on uterine tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Prevention of perinatal HIV transmission: are there alternatives to pre-pregnancy serological screening in Kinshasa, Zaire?

Complete obstetrical and medical histories were obtained from 6312 women between the ages of 15 and 45 years who had undergone HIV serological tests. Individual factors were examined for sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of HIV infection. No individual risk factors for HIV infection were identified which had sensitivities greater than 60%. Combinations of factors were modelled by logistic regression. Only a model which included indicators of present illness with AIDS/HIV-related symptoms (i.e., chronic fever, diarrhea or profound weight loss) was predictive of HIV serostatus. These results suggest that identification of healthy women at high risk of HIV infection using non-serological information is not feasible. Thus, since the yearly cost of universal serological screening is prohibitively expensive in the Zairean context, HIV/AIDS education and prevention campaigns may in fact be a more cost-effective means of preventing perinatal transmission of HIV.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Perinatal transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 to infants of seropositive women in Zaire.

To examine perinatal transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in Zaire, we screened 8108 women who gave birth at one of two Kinshasa hospitals that serve populations of markedly different socioeconomic status. For up to one year, we followed the 475 infants of the 466 seropositive women (5.8 percent of those screened) and the 616 infants of 606 seronegative women matched for age, parity, and hospital. On the basis of clinical criteria, 85 of the seropositive women (18 percent) had the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The infants of seropositive mothers, as compared with those of seronegative mothers, were more frequently premature, had lower birth weights, and had a higher death rate in the first 28 days (6.2 vs. 1.2 percent; P less than 0.0001). The patterns were similar at the two hospitals. Twenty-one percent of the cultures for HIV-1 of 92 randomly selected cord-blood samples from infants of seropositive women were positive. T4-cell counts were performed in 37 seropositive women, and cord blood from their infants was cultured. The cultures were positive in the infants of 6 of the 18 women with antepartum T4 counts of 400 or fewer cells per cubic millimeter, as compared with none of the infants of the 19 women with more than 400 T4 cells per cubic millimeter (P = 0.02). One year later, 21 percent of the infants of the seropositive mothers had died as compared with 3.8 percent of the control infants (P less than 0.001), and 7.9 percent of their surviving infants had AIDS. We conclude that the mortality rates among children of seropositive mothers are high regardless of socioeconomic status, and that perinatal transmission of HIV-1 has a major adverse effect on infant survival in Kinshasa.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

PubMed1989

A destructive discovertebral lesion: septic discitis, ankylosing spondylitis, or rheumatoid arthritis?

A 41-year-old male with a 20-year history of classical ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis and seropositive, nodular erosive rheumatoid arthritis presented with a 12-month history of thoracolumbar junction pain following minor trauma. A pseudoarthrosis was noted at the T11/12 level on plain radiographs and tomograms. A gallium scan showed no increased isotope uptake, and a computed tomogram (CT) revealed no evidence of a paraspinal collection. Conservative management including cast immobilisation and local radiotherapy was ineffective, and spinal fusion was required. A typical Andersson lesion was found at operation. The diagnostic and therapeutic problems of such discovertebral lesions are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Progesterone induction of the uterine milk proteins: major secretory proteins of sheep endometrium.

Progesterone induction of the uterine milk proteins (UTMP), the major secretory products of the ovine uterus during pregnancy, was studied in ovariectomized ewes given physiological levels of progesterone for 0, 2, 6, 14, or 30 days. Western blotting of uterine flushes and of endometrial explant culture medium, endometrial RNA analyses on dot and Northern blots, and immunocytochemistry performed on uterine tissue sections demonstrated the presence of low levels of UTMP mRNA and UTMP protein after 6 days of progesterone therapy, and increasing levels of UTMP production and secretion after 14 days. Highest activity was observed at Day 30. The induction of the UTMP progressed from small amounts of antigen present in the supranuclear region of a few epithelial cells in deep and middle-depth regions of uterine glands in the Day 6 progesterone-treatment group to large amounts detected in epithelial cells spread throughout the length of the glands in later groups. UTMP production was also identified in the uteri of intact ewes at Day 16 (but not earlier) of the estrous cycle and during early pregnancy (Days 14 to 22). Production of a protein similar to the UTMP was also noted in the uterus of a pregnant cow. The UTMP provide a good model of a progesterone-responsive secretory protein in a mammal whose synthesis is increased gradually over a period of weeks.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Correlation between the release of ovine trophoblast protein-1 by the conceptus and the production of polypeptides by the maternal endometrium of ewes.

We studied the biosynthesis of two proteins, p70 (Mr 70,000; pI 4.0) and p15 (Mr 15,000; pI 5.7), by endometrial tissues from ewes between Days 12 and 24 of pregnancy and between Days 12 and 16 of the oestrous cycle to determine whether production of the two was correlated with the period of biosynthesis of ovine trophoblast protein-1 (oTP-1) by the conceptus. We also compared the protein synthetic activities of endometrium from gravid and non-gravid horns of pregnant ewes at Days 14, 16 and 18 in which the conceptus had been confined to one uterine horn. Proteins p70 and p15 were produced maximally between Days 14 and 20 of pregnancy, but synthesis by endometrial cultures from cyclic ewes was low or absent. Furthermore, synthesis of Protein p70 in particular was much greater by the gravid than non-gravid horn of unilaterally pregnant ewes. We conclude that synthesis of Proteins p70 and p15 by the uterus of sheep coincides with the time of oTP-1 production by the conceptus.

Animals↗