PRESENCE OF PLASMA AND CELLULAR FIBRONECTIN IN UTERINE SECRETIONS OF PIGS DURING EARLY PREGNANCY

The fibronectin is an extracellular matrix protein, which play a significant role in cell proliferation, differentiation and migration in several physiological and pathological processes. During pregnancy the fibronectin mediate attachment of embryo to uterine surface epithelium. The aim of the present study is to identify plasma and cellular fibronectin isoforms in uterine secretions of pregnant pigs. The results indicated presence of proteolytic degradation of the plasma and cellular fibronectin molecules during embryo implantation and weak increasing of levels of plasma fibronectin with advancing of pregnancy. On the basis of these results it was suggested that the generated fibronectin fragments may be affect cell differentiation and migration of a trophoblast cells and endometrial surface epithelium.