Fibrinogen at the Embryo/Fetal-maternal Interface Mediates Integrin-dependent Cell Adhesion During Equine Pregnancy

Early equine pregnancy is characterized by a number of distinct features such as a phase of embryonic mobility and a prolonged pre-implantation phase. Following fixation, it is not until day 40 post ovulation that the trophoblast begins to make a stable microvillous attachment to the luminal epithelium of the endometrium. The adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix proteins involved in either process have not been examined in detail. We have recently described the expression and secretion of fibrinogen by pre-implantation equine conceptuses.
Source: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Source Type: research