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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 #97341
Title: EFFECT OF INTRAVENOUS IRON AND FOLIC ACID ON UTERINE PROTEIN SECRETION DURING EARLY PREGNANCY

Author
item Vallet, Jeff
item Christenson, Ronald
item Klemcke, Harold
item PEARSON, PAUL - 5438-01-10

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: White crossbred gilts were mated after at least one estrous cycle of normal length. Jugular catheters were inserted on d 9 of pregnancy, and from d 10 to d 14 of pregnancy, gilts received daily intravenous infusions of either (1) 20 ml saline, (2) 1 mg alpha-tocopherol in 20 mL .9% saline, (3) 100 mg Fe Citrate and 1 mg alpha-tocopherol in 20 mL saline or (4) 500 ug tetrahydrofolate and 1 mg alpha-tocopherol in 20 mL saline. On d 15, gilts were slaughtered and the reproductive tract was flushed with 20 mL .9% saline per uterine horn. Conceptuses recovered were evaluated for stage of development (somite stage). Uterine flushings were assayed for total protein, retinol binding protein (RBP), acid phosphatase (AP, a measure of uteroferrin (UF)), and folate binding protein (FBP). Alpha-tocopherol treatment increased (P<.05) both total protein (284.3 +/- 27.1 vs 185.4 +/- 30.3 mg, respectively) and total RBP (17.8 +/- 1.6 vs 12.6 +/- 1.8 mg, respectively) compared to saline alone. Tetrahydrofolate treatment decreased (P=.05) total protein (203.2 +/- 27.1 vs 284.3 +/- 27.1 mg) and total AP (710.7 +/- 74.4 vs 929.7 +/- 74.4 umole Pi/min) compared to alpha tocopherol treatment. No treatment differences were detected for somite stage of embryo or for total FBP. Thus, intravenous iron and tetrahydrofolate do not increase the amount of UF and FBP. These data suggest that the amount of UF and FBP secreted by the endometrium during pregnancy is relatively unaffected by substrate availability.