Alpha-fetoprotein is present in the fetal fluids and is increased in plasma of mares with experimentally induced ascending placentitis.
Abstract: The objectives of this study were to: (i) determine alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations in fetal fluids (FF), and (ii) compare plasma concentrations of AFP in mares with placentitis (n=17) and gestationally age-matched control mares (n=17). Fetal fluid sampling (FFS, n=7/group) was performed at 0, 5 and 12 days post inoculation (DPI) or until abortion. Plasma was harvested daily for 12 days or until abortion. Placentitis was induced via intracervical inoculation of Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus. Proteins present in the FF were resolved by 1D-SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotting was used to detect the presence of AFP in fetal fluids. Concentrations of AFP in FF and plasma were determined with a chemiluminescence immunoassay. Mixed models for DPI, and for days from abortion (DFA) were used to analyze plasma concentrations of AFP. A protein band ∼68kDa consistent with the AFP size was present in all samples of fetal fluids examined. Immunoblotting for AFP revealed a single protein band (∼68kDa) in all samples. Concentrations of AFP in FF appeared higher than those in maternal plasma. There were effects of time (DPI p<0.0001; DFA p=0.0002) and time-by-group interactions (DPI*Group p<0.06; Group*DFA p<0.001). This study confirmed that AFP is present in the FF of mares during the third trimester of pregnancy. Experimentally induced placentitis was associated with an elevation in maternal plasma concentrations of AFP.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2015-01-09 PubMed ID: 25599591DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2014.12.019Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article reveals that alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), commonly found in fetal fluids, exhibits increased concentrations in the blood plasma of horses (mares) suffering from a specific pregnancy complication, ascending placentitis.
Objectives and Methodology
- The primary goals of the researchers were to understand AFP concentrations in fetal fluids and to compare its plasma concentrations in mares with or without placentitis. Two matching groups of 17 mares each were studied for comparison: one who had placentitis and the control group that didn’t.
- The researchers conducted fetal fluid sampling at three stages: at the beginning, five days post inoculation (DPI) and at twelve days post inoculation or at the time of abortion, should that occur.
- They induced placentitis in mares via an intracervical method, which involves injecting a disease-causing bacterium called Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus. This bacterium is known to cause a variety of infections in horses, including placentitis.
- Chemiluminescence immunoassay, 1D-SDS-PAGE (1-Dimensional Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis), and Immunoblotting were the significant methods used to identify, analyze, and compare AFP concentrations.
Findings of the Research
- They discovered a protein band around 68kDa in all the examined fetal fluid samples. The size of this particular band was consistent with the known size of AFP.
- Immunoblotting confirmed the presence of AFP in all fluid samples by producing a similar single protein band of approximately 68kDa.
- Interestingly, AFP concentrations in fetal fluids appeared to be higher than those in the mother’s plasma.
- The study also observed significant variation over time (DPI and days from abortion) and interactions between time and the group of mares.
Conclusion
- The study successfully validated the presence of AFP in fetal fluids of mares during the third trimester of pregnancy. Furthermore, it presented a clear association between a rise in maternal plasma concentrations of AFP with experimentally induced placentitis.
Cite This Article
APA
Canisso IF, Ball BA, Scoggin KE, Squires EL, Williams NM, Troedsson MH.
(2015).
Alpha-fetoprotein is present in the fetal fluids and is increased in plasma of mares with experimentally induced ascending placentitis.
Anim Reprod Sci, 154, 48-55.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2014.12.019 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Reproduction Laboratory, Maxwell Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
- Reproduction Laboratory, Maxwell Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA. Electronic address: b.a.ball@uky.edu.
- Reproduction Laboratory, Maxwell Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
- Reproduction Laboratory, Maxwell Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40511, USA.
- Reproduction Laboratory, Maxwell Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Amniotic Fluid / chemistry
- Amniotic Fluid / metabolism
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Female
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Placenta Diseases / blood
- Placenta Diseases / metabolism
- Placenta Diseases / microbiology
- Placenta Diseases / veterinary
- Pregnancy
- Streptococcal Infections / blood
- Streptococcal Infections / metabolism
- Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcus equi
- Time Factors
- alpha-Fetoproteins / chemistry
- alpha-Fetoproteins / genetics
- alpha-Fetoproteins / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Drozdzewska K, Gehlen H. Markers for internal neoplasia in the horse. Vet Med Sci 2023 Jan;9(1):132-143.
- Loux SC, Dini P, El-Sheikh Ali H, Kalbfleisch T, Ball BA. Characterization of the placental transcriptome through mid to late gestation in the mare. PLoS One 2019;14(11):e0224497.
- Tibary A. Grand Challenge Animal Reproduction-Theriogenology: From the Bench to Application to Animal Production and Reproductive Medicine. Front Vet Sci 2017;4:114.
- Murase H, Niwa H, Katayama Y, Sato F, Hada T, Nambo Y. A clinical case of equine fungal placentitis with reference to hormone profiles and ultrasonography. J Equine Sci 2015;26(4):129-33.
- Hardefeldt L, Thomas K, Page S, Norris J, Browning G, El Hage C, Stewart A, Gilkerson J, Muscatello G, Verwilghen D, van Galen G, Bauquier J, Cuming R, Reynolds B, Whittaker C, Wilkes E, Clulow J, Burden C, Begg L. Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses in Australia. Aust Vet J 2025 Dec;103(12):781-889.
- Cho HY, Lee JE, Park KH, Choi BY, Lee MJ, Jeong DE, Shin S. Identification and characterization of plasma proteins associated with intra-amniotic inflammation and/or infection in women with preterm labor. Sci Rep 2024 Jun 25;14(1):14654.
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