Abstract: 81

LIF, LIFR, AND GP130 IN RHESUS MONKEY UTERUS DURING THE MENSTRAL CYCLE AND EARLY PREGNANCY.

Zeng-Ming Yang^{1 *}, Zhan-Peng Yue¹ , Peng Wei¹ , MJK Harper^{2 *}
Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China ¹
CONRAD Program, Arlington, VA, USA ²

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is essential for implantation of mouse embryos. This study was done to examine immunohistochemically the presence of LIF, LIF receptor (LIFR) and gp130 in the monkey uterus during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy. A ~22 kD band was detected in monkey uterus by immunoblot with goat anti-human LIF IgG. LIF was mainly localized in glandular and luminal epithelium. LIF staining during luteal phase was stronger than that during the proliferative phase. In the cycle, LIF staining was greatest during mid-luteal phase. In pregnancy (day of ovulation = day 1), LIF staining was weak on days 1 and 2, gradually increased from day 3 of pregnancy and reached the highest level on day 9. In treated animals, two mg of Goat anti-human recombinant LIF IgG was administered into the uterine lumen by abdominal surgery on day 8 of pregnancy, while controls received two mg of normal goat IgG. Pregnancy rate was decreased from 67% in control (9 out of 12) to 25% in treated animals group (3 out of 12). LIFR was mainly localized in the glandular epithelium. LIFR staining during the luteal phase was stronger than that during the proliferative phase. In pregnant animals, LIFR staining began to increase from day 3 of pregnancy and reached a high level on days 9 and 11. gp130 was mainly localized in the glandular epithelium. High level of gp130 was found on days 16 and 20 of menstrual cycle. During early pregnancy, gp130 began to increase from day 2 of pregnancy and was maintained at a high level from days 5 to 11 of pregnancy. The high levels of LIF, LIFR and gp130 observed during mid-luteal phase and the peri-implantation period suggests that LIF may also play an important role in monkey implantation. (Supported by CICCR/CONRAD CIG-96-07).

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