Beta transforming growth factors (TGFbeta) at the porcine conceptus-maternal interface. Part II: uterine TGFbeta bioactivity and expression of immunoreactive TGFbetas (TGFbeta1, TGFbeta2, and TGFbeta3) and their receptors (type I and type II).

Porcine uterine tissues were collected from Days 10 to 14 of gestation (peri-implantation period) or corresponding days of the estrous cycle. Results indicated a marked increase in beta transforming growth factors (TGFbeta1, TGFbeta2, and TGFbeta3) and TGFbeta receptor (type I and type II) immunostaining in uterine luminal epithelium (ULE) between Days 10 and 14 of gestation, but there was no increase in ULE immunostaining on the corresponding days of the estrous cycle. Uterine glands and stroma were intensely immunopositive in pregnant gilts for TGFbeta isoforms and their receptors, but immunostaining was weak to undetectable in cycling gilts. No differences were detected in myometrium, in which immunostaining was moderate in both cycling and pregnant gilts. Additionally, TGFbeta2 and TGFbeta receptor (type I and type II) immunostaining was detected in uterine monocyte/macrophage-like cells. Western blotting detected the presence of all three TGFbeta isoforms in uterine luminal flushings. The CCL64 cell TGFbeta bioassay detected bioactive TGFbetas++ in uterine luminal flushings on Days 12, 13, an 14 of gestation. These results strongly indicate that uterine expression of TGFbetas and their receptors is pregnancy specific and that bioactive TGFbetas are present at the conceptus-maternal interface in the peri-implantation period in pigs. Thus TGFbetas are likely to be involved in autocrine-paracrine interactions between the maternal uterus and the conceptus.