[Confirmation of the presence of uteroglobin in tubal secretions].

Abstract

The acrylamide gel electrophoresis of rabbit serum, of rabbit tubal secretions at the oestrus stage (STO) and at the luteal stage (STL), followed by immunodiffusion with anti-serum, was done to detect any tubal proteins which were not found in the rabbit serum. The anti-rabbit STO goat anti-serum was absorbed with rabbit plasma in order to purify antibodies to proteins found specifically in tubal secretions. This technique revealed the presence of a protein (STx) in STO and STL but not in the rabbit serum. The electrophoretic migration (Rf = 0.72) of the tubal protein (STx) is similar to uteroglobin (Rf = 0.74). The tubal protein was detected immunologically only in tissues where uteroglobin had been found by other workers: lungs, semen, Fallopian tubes and uterine secretions (5 days post-ovulation); further more a complete identity for the precipitating line existed between these extracts. These results corroborate the presence of uteroglobin or of a very similar protein in oestrus of luteal tubal secretions and in some other rabbit tissues.